Chapter 9: Fragments

The Beacon tower could've been useful if it had a clock. It was in the perfect location, and yet it seemed as if nobody had thought of it.

No matter, Cinder was sure she had arrived on time, otherwise she expected Glynda to reprimand her. Only someone like Ozpin would be as uncharitable as to schedule a meeting in the dead of night, and one in the middle courtyard to boot, meaning they'd need to go through the teacher's lounge.

Shouldn't they encourage their students to have a healthy sleep cycle? Not that Cinder had one, in fact most of her obligations outside homework had to take place at night, but still, it's not like they knew about any of it.

Perhaps it was intentional. To what end, she couldn't tell, It was always difficult with the scheming types. She'd need to read him and think ahead, make assumptions with second hand information, she could've simply ignored the call entirely, yet it would almost definitely have made her look worse, or at least suspicious.

Not worth the risk. She had a plan in mind for this. If she could earn some trust today, then come the Vale Festival it would be that much easier to have someone like Neopolitan wreaking havoc.

As Glynda moved across the hall , Cinder following behind, atlesian soldiers who served as guards stopped and saluted, one by one. She didn't utter a single word, preferring to move silently with her back straight and her chin high, the cloak flowing behind her. The respect her presence commanded was obvious. It was the rewards, or perhaps the consequence of cultivating such power in a single person.

The air of valor that she carried, the respect inspired by her presence, it felt so out of reach.

They were in the teacher's lounge, a room large enough to serve the purpose of an auditorium, altered to serve practical Hunting functions. Some blackboards that had seen decades of use still had detailed attack plans, hastily put together schematics for weapons, dust equations, Grimm notes, hunting shifts. Some Grimm ecology notes were wrong, specifically the ones that attempted to understand the biology of Grimm, but they were still close enough to be useful for what she knew a huntsman needed, for efficient disabling and killing.

"It's a war against vale!" The only television in the room replayed that night's news broadcast. "This one student comes out of nowhere, doesn't seem to have a team, and is suddenly working with big names like Goodwitch? The only possible way to explain this is that either the girl has a manipulation semblance, or she's a moon-dweller, come to breed chaos among men!" Glynda waved her crop and the television clicked off, prompting annoyed grunts from nearby.

The tables being used were not too different from the wooden cafeteria tables. Sitting at them were Professor Harold-the Weapon Crafting and Upkeep professor-removing bullets from Professor Anne's arm. How Anne didn't flinch or scream in pain was beyond understanding, and if the pile small of bloodstained towels proved anything was that it had been going for an unreasonable amount of time. Just as she processed the image, Professor Port joined the two with a surgical kit and several towels in hand.

So much sacrifice, so many of them had seen the abyss of death and returned to tell the tale. It didn't seem to faze Glynda in the slightest. Some time ago, they would have been students like Pyrrha or Nora, filled with smiles, hopes and dreams. Did they believe there was something good to hold to? What reason kept them hanging on?

Why did they serve Ozpin?

They moved to the middle courtyard, only accessible through the teacher's lounge. It was likely a place for rest, where the cold stone floor gave way to shamrock-green grass, many different blossoms, bird feeders and a simple fountain at the center, where water flowed out at a steady rate. Try as she might to ignore it, to focus, Cinder understood the choice. Sometimes taking care of such things was therapeutic.

Ozpin awaited her near the center, occupied with something on a tablet-sized scroll, and he had his back foolishly turned to them.

Could she have taken the chance to slay him then and there, once and for all? Before meeting him in person, Cinder wouldn't have doubted herself, but she was no fool. One word, one order from him and she'd be lucky to last seconds.

Strangely enough, the only thing that kept her from running back to her dorm room was Glynda. The professor stood next to her, and despite the fact that the Headmaster outranked her the combat instructor still seemed to be the one truly in charge.

Why Ozpin? Isn't it obvious? So many people worship these Huntsmen, for all their power. Still, what do they actually do? A memory, the familiar, soothing voice echoed from the recesses of her mind.

As they approached the Headmaster, Glynda stopped, prompting Cinder to do the same.

Ozpin turned his head slightly, still avoiding facing them, "Ms Fall. I'd much rather call you to my office, but as you can see we're currently dealing with so many crises at the time," even if his tone was soft, it was easy to see the traits Salem had described.

"I can understand why," Cinder answered, monotone. She couldn't, at the time her willpower was entirely dedicated to keeping her from attacking Ozpin when there were so many secrets still kept hidden, out of sight behind their veil of hunting.

He turned around, collapsing the tablet scroll, "Good. To get to the matters at hand, I'm aware of the current… problem regarding your previous mission. Don't worry, you're not in danger of being expelled."

Ah, expelled. That was something students had to worry about, Cinder nearly forgot. Given the knowledge that Atlas was running false flag operations in vale, perhaps somewhere deep inside she expected it to be brought up.

"On the contrary," he continued, "We think your performance was exemplary. Some seem to disagree though."

Cinder, Honey, they're only smoke and mirrors. When you needed help, were any of them there for you? Another echo broke into the privacy of her wits.

"I'm well aware of that," Cinder retorted, ignoring courtesies altogether.

"I'm sure you are. And although I'm familiar with how things are done in Haven, here in Beacon we like to nurture the independence of our Huntsmen and Huntresses."

For a moment, she wondered if he knew how much that independence cost everyone, "What does that even mean?"

"It means you have a choice, Ms Fall. More than one, considering how you're the center of a few controversies. Of course every one of these options comes with further, secret intel, should you accept them."

"What if I can't make a choice?" Cinder asked.

"Then we will simply have to make a choice in your place. For your academic needs, of course. Your team is short three members after all."

He let the words hang in the air. Too ambiguous to tell if he knew or not, and Cinder hated every second of it.

"Of course," Cinder answered, "And the first choice is?"

"Leave it to us. We can't control the media but we can apply some pressure. It would help us get rid of the conspiracy theories at least."

Glynda chuckled, "As if one of our students was a half grimm, half human hybrid."

Yeah, as if- wait. Was that another conspiracy theory?

"Indeed," Ozpin continued, treating Glynda's remark as part of his own, "I can't in good faith promise it would undo the damage, but at least it would make it stop. All we'd need is for you to forgo a few missions for now, a couple of months worth at best."

He stared at her, waiting for an answer. The facade of some benevolent wise old headmaster didn't fool her, she knew that underneath the mask laid quite the opposite, the man could and would do anything within his grasp to keep power.

"But, won't that put me behind the other students? And how does it make it all stop?" Cinder tested. She knew they likely had a plan, and digging out as much as she could was now a matter of survival, and if she could evade the option under the veneer of concern, all the better.

"We predict they'll have moved on within that timeframe. Although of course, Professor Goodwitch is prepared to provide the appropriate academic exercises in the meantime."

Ozpin wasn't budging, It was insanity. Even for a normal student it would be far from good, the others would see it as favoritism, and less missions meant less information. It meant more time away from Pyrrha and Team Juniper. It was akin to being disarmed. "And the other choice?" Cinder asked.

"We'll arrange an Interview, live on air with Commlink. They've been rather aggressive, so much so that given the timing we believe an uptick in Grimm numbers near the Mountain Glenn area is thanks to their broadcasts affecting the public. Well, that and a sharp increase in telescope sales and UFO sightings," the headmaster finished.

Just as Cinder opened her mouth to speak, he continued, cavalier "We've prepared a dossier, enough information so that an interview would be trivial."

An interview. More chances to have them take her words and twist them, more chances to make mistakes, reveal too much. Was it a part of his plan, whatever that was?

"So it'll be scripted?" Cinder asked, to give herself more time to think.

"Not so. With the intel we have, it is possible to predict the questions you will be asked with somewhere around ninety-nine percent accuracy. This endeavor could even leave them worse for wear, publicly shamed, if only for a while."

Would a student even choose that, if they had the chance? Cinder knew she would, to make them pay for the smear campaign, but what about Nora, or Pyrrha? The warriors were so much like her in some ways, and so different in others, but perhaps there was a lesson to be learned in them.

"And those are my only options?"

"There is a third option, something of a middle ground. With the Vytal festival drawing so close, there are some who believe we can't protect ourselves. You will shadow Professor Goodwitch on her missions and we will follow, ready to film footage of our own."

Glynda pursed her lips as she looked at Opzin, "We've always preferred action after all."

Cinder almost accepted immediately. Earning more trust was within her plans. In a way, being trusted by Glynda could bring her closer to the maiden, closer to the relic, all without the need for a fight. Would it take a few months, maybe a year more than previously planned? Perhaps, but plans rarely survived contact with the enemy.

However, having her every move filmed? Insanity. As much as it would rid her of the annoyance of current events and further her goals in a single step, it had to be a macabre trap. Remembering to keep the student facade, she maintained her demeanor by a hair.

"Pardon me, but I thought Professor Goodwitch preferred to stay out of the spotlight? I'm not sure how I feel moving her into this."

Glynda folded her arms, shifting her weight as she looked at Cinder, "I dislike it for many practical reasons. However I also despise how things escalated so far. I can't stand seeing a student of mine being cast as some sort of villain."

The Professor's opinions on the matter were definitely meant to soothe, yet it made things worse. Did Cinder want to have even more eyes on her, as well as a debt to Glynda Goodwitch?.

She eyed Glynda one more time before answering. She couldn't see a way out of it, an option that would reward her some moves down the line, "Those are all the choices I have? It all feels so… limited."

"It is what we've gathered. Rest assured, every one of these options was tailored for maximum possible efficiency."

It took a lot more time Cinder would have expected herself to take making such a choice. Moments extended to minutes, before she understood. Perhaps there was a different choice to be made.

"What if I followed Team Juniper instead? If they agree, of course. That way I won't interfere with anyone's Hunting." As Cinder finished the sentence, Ozpin looked at Glynda for a moment, who seemed mildly surprised at the suggestion.

"Well... I suppose there are some missions we can assign you inside the City of Vale. That would be less risky, so it wouldn't require you shadow a Huntress. We'll talk with Team Juniper."

"Ms Fall, do you understand you wouldn't have our resources if you do? Access to airships, intelligence, or contacts? This could be dangerous in its own way."

It was a downside, but an expected one, and Cinder could turn it into an advantage. No other student ever had access to these things, it would raise eyebrows if she had it, regardless if it was offered or not. Maybe not that day, or the day after, and perhaps not among the staff but in the form of rumors circulating from student to student. It would almost definitely go against her mission.

And when she thought about it, perhaps there was one way to sway Glynda's opinion. The right words chosen at the right time could make a world of difference. "I think I can work with that. The past mission coupled with this, It's overwhelming," Cinder crossed her arms and shrunk into herself. Perhaps the act would hit Goodwitch's weak spot.

Upon hearing the words, the professor's look softened. It seemed the stone-faced expression wasn't her default after all, yet before she could speak her mind the headmaster interjected.

"Then I believe this is settled. Once again, Ms Fall, for Beacon Academy I apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for your cooperation."

Cinder hesitated before walking back into the teacher's room, "It wasn't a problem."

"This girl is nothing but trouble. Everything about her fulfils the requirements for thorough investigation. Her demeanor, her appearance, It all speaks of evil. Primordial evil from before the time of man, that girl is an agent of the antagonist, a harbinger of chaos, an omen of violence, a forerunner of eradication! She wants to dismantle the very fabric of our society, I say!"

Professors Port and Anne's laughter echoed through the room, "What a clown!" Anne said, "I can't believe It!"

Cinder refused to dignify the news segment with a single word as she stormed out.

"That was cold, Ozpin."

"I believe we both know it was necessary," The Headmaster answered as he opened the tablet scroll again, somber and exhausted from what they were about to do.

What would she even have told Pyrrha, or the rest of Team Juniper?

Thankfully they didn't have to act on anything, Glynda wasn't sure she'd be able to sleep if they carried on with the plan, "No, it was anything but necessary. Or you're going to tell me you would've ventilated a student if she agreed to any of that?"

As the scroll went back online, the AI from the tower took the time to materialize a hologram again. She had chosen her own name-Dot-and after Anne's check-up wore clothes of her choosing, a black pencil skirt and a white blouse. Glynda suspected she knew where the program got her inspiration from, even if the short black hair ultimately distinguished both significantly. At least the AI was happy now.

Ozpin answered the question a little too soon, "It was a test, specifically designed to lure an infiltrator. We both know that's a legitimate concern, and students know better than to accept covert deals."

Glynda's mouth curled into a frown, "Yeah well, you know what else is a legitimate concern? The thirty stealth gunners pointing to this place right now. Dot, tell them to stand down."

Within a moment Dot answered dutifully, "Of course! Done. Anything else you'd like me to tell them?"

Ozpin cut in before Glynda could tell her to dismiss them as well, "No, that will be enough for now. Thank you Dot."

"I don't get it, why worry that she is the one infiltrating the school? I've double-checked her record and it all adds up. Haven student, average grades, no family. Even their clerical error in assigning her a team, we've had cases like that here in Beacon, classes ending up with odd numbers..."

"Haven doesn't make those kinds of mistakes, their paper trail is impeccable."

Without missing a beat, Glynda countered, "There's a first time for everything."

Ozpin narrowed his eyes at the remark, closing the tablet scroll and turning his back to her.

"Which is why we'll proceed as planned."

Maybe it'll be awhile before I can sleep well again.

It wasn't often that the girl kept her waiting. Now that she cared to think back, it never happened before Cinder infiltrated Beacon.

She used to serve her purpose so well, no questions asked, one could aim her at a target like a well-mannered 200-year old Nevermore and watch the destruction from afar. Then like the obedient girl she was, Cinder would return, speechless when everything about her screamed in need for appreciation.

It was always like that with her. Her words said one thing, yet her attitude..

Salem provided that appreciation, of course. Like humans needed food, bows needed arrows and fish needed water, Cinder needed the care. She just couldn't give the girl enough to truly satisfy. Doing so would make her stronger in the future, for when their despicable world hurt her again, and It'd prevent being too attached to someone with so much potential.

After all, potential was just that. Potential. All it meant was that she wasn't good yet. Maybe it was the way things went with children once they left their nests, or maybe she'd pay off in the future, but at that moment?

Underwhelming.

Not just the girl's behaviour. The dorm room Ozma stuffed her in was definitely and thoroughly underwhelming. Even the seer's limited sense could see it, and it had only been there for thirty minutes this time.

How had she never noticed before? One room, only big enough not to be called a closet, and miraculously large enough for a bed, table, and sink she hoped no one had the courage to call a kitchen. There was only enough space to maneuver in between so that the pieces of furniture wouldn't fuse into a single bed-desk-sink abomination. At least Beacon had the decency to provide a bathroom in each dorm room.

And to think Ozma had the gall to treat her as a villain. What was next, was he feeding them the gruesome crime to culinary tradition that Hazel described as 'instant noodles'? If he didn't expect to be antagonized for any of it, he should've known better.

The sound of four locks opening brought her thoughts to the present. Behind the door, was Cinder, thirty minutes late and bearing an empty expression.

"Cinder."

The girl didn't answer. Good, she knew what she had done, it was quite the inconvenience to have someone else take a Seer inside Vale walls, and Salem did it purely so she could talk to her.

"Explain yourself," Salem commanded as soon as Cinder finished locking the door, and kneeling in front of her.

"I was asked to attend a meeting with the Headmaster."

"With Ozpin?"

"Yes," Cinder answered. The truth was obvious, everything but her words made it explicit.

She was scared.

The meeting was precocious, the girl still hadn't had the time to earn a few smaller victories as Salem thought she would. Her confidence had to be nurtured again.

"And I assume you've returned to tell me you finished your mission? Killed him and acquired the maiden's powers?"

Salem knew she hadn't. She was aware of far more than the girl could ever think of, and if Cinder hadn't deduced it until now, she would after this. There was no need for someone on that level of uselessness.

She approached the girl, and even from miles away, through the eyes of a seer, it was easy to see it only exacerbate things. It was good, pivotal even, in keeping her well-behaved.

"Get up," she told Cinder. The girl expected punishment at hearing the words, perhaps worse.

Salem embraced her, with a small use of the same magic she held for the thousands of years before, she warmed the girl, to make her feel a little closer.

"It's okay."

The reaction was immediate, as expected. Her breathing was calmer, her heart wasn't beating as quickly as it was before, and Cinder hid a smile.

"All that matters is that you're here. Safe and sound. I was almost worried again."

She let the statement sink in. it would make the guilt hit a little harder.

"I'll always wait as long as I need to, I know you can fulfill your destiny."

"I…" The girl tried to speak, no doubt her lies running through her mind at that very moment. Some part of her still vehemently believed Salem didn't know she still interacted with that team.

She still believed she was being rebellious. Good.

"I think you've been through enough today, haven't you? Watts wouldn't stop blabbering about your previous escapade."

"About that, I didn't think it would result in such commotion," Cinder answered, trying her best to remain calm. It was almost endearing.

"It was perfect," Salem said, releasing her from the hug. It made the action more pointed when she suspended the spell, leaving the girl to the cold of her dorm room.

"Really?" Cinder asked, a smile almost creeping up from the corners of her mouth.

"Really. I couldn't have asked for something better, you are going above and beyond my expectations," she lied.

"Even Watts praised it some," Salem continued. It was true, although the praise given was only because that mission earned him information about Atlas and what he called 'false flag operations'.

"I didn't know about that. Is what why he's been less insufferable?"

Salem chuckled once. The girl was more confident, as Salem expected. This was preferable, she'd be much more useful now. And the way Cinder kept trying to imitate her was simply adorable.

"Perhaps it is. This is why you're such a good one, Cinder. You don't disappoint me," she lied again.

"Thank you, I-"

"You will stop refusing my calls, from now on… so we can talk more, of course. Understood?"

"Yes, understood."

"Pyrrha, This is too much, even for you," Nora whispered as they walked quietly through the west wing. There shouldn't be anyone in there, but they kept their conversation quiet just in case

"Or maybe it's just the right amount of 'much', did you think about that?" Pyrrha whispered as she pointed at Nora, exasperated.

Nora looked at her, confused, "That doesn't even make any sense!"

"You know what doesn't make any sense? Cinder not telling me she was going to the teacher's room!"

Nora sighed, "I'm sure it's just some dumb meeting, she's been through a lot after they started airing those theories. I mean maybe she is living tissue over a metal endoskeleton but I hear those things can be detected by dogs so I'm sure she's in the clear."

"I'm not talking about that. Ozpin never called anyone there! He always calls them to his office, and it's always during recess."

It gave Nora something to think about, From the confusion apparent in her face, not everything added up, "Okay, that makes a lot more sense, you should just tell people what you're thinking."

Maybe I should, she thought. Was it the best time to be talking about it? Definitely not.

It didn't stop Pyrrha, "I'm worried about her, okay?"

Nora yawned, tired, "Geez,"Geez, Thank you. Almost thought you were having a jealousy episode there. I mean I've been there, just ask Ren about the second-year class from Signal."

Pyrrha stared at her, "Do I wanna know?"

Nora crossed her arms, looking away, "Let's just say tiny Nora fought a lot of people and she's very regretful of it."

"Why am I only hearing about this now?" Pyrrha asked, as they approached Cinder's room.

Room 636, she still remembered it.

"Well, I'd-" Nora tried to say, before Pyrrha shushed her.

Listen, Pyrrha mouthed the words as she put an ear to the door.

"Safe and sound. I was almost worried again."

Their words were almost impossible to make up, was the door reinforced? Pyrrha tried to move to a better position in vain. Was cinder on a video call with someone from her family? Given the way she acted last time Pyrrha saw them calling her, they didn't seem to be on good terms.

So why get on a video call with one of them?

Maybe they wanted something from her? Pyrrha had heard of more than one of those cases. Families that ignore and neglect children, only to come crawling back when they became powerful huntsmen and huntresses.

"This is why..., Cinder. You don't disappoint me,"

"Thank you, I-"

"You will stop refusing my calls, from now on… so we can talk more, of course. Understood?"

"Yes, understood."

Nora stared at Pyrrha when the call ended. It was clear she was thinking the same thing.

Oh my god.