No Update 3rd April:

There will be no update for Relic of the Future (3rd April) due to my sister's parents-in-law dying. She was a carer for them, with her husband's two parents (who were old and incredibly infirm) living with them in their home. Both parents passed away in their sleep last night and she woke up to find their bodies. She called me in tears today begging me to come round and help her because her husband has broken down at the loss of his parents and she needs help. I'm over there now, basically, and updating this on a laptop. Fics will continue as normal tomorrow.

Cover Art: Jack Wayne

Chapter 148

Jaune had heard once that killing a man was like having a one-night stand, it sounded like a great idea at the time but all you were left with after was a vague sense of distaste and regret. So it was with Arthur Watts, who didn't put up a fight to get his blood pumping or die honourably in combat where he could respect his foe. Arthur died like he lived, a coward with more bark than bite desperately trying to toady up to those stronger than him.

Feeling melancholy for such a person was strange. Maybe it was the way he died, how drawn out it was or just the fact that it was hard to remember someone was evil when they were crying and begging. Either way, Jaune turned away from corpse lashed upon the rocks, shaking slightly and wishing he had something to hold onto.

"Well?" Raven asked, ever the unsympathetic one. "Did you learn anything?"

The night would have been even more pathetic if he hadn't. "I think so. Salem's mark… I think I could remove it. It hooks into the soul, like…" It was hard to explain something that was feeling and instinct more than practice. This magic of Salem and Ozma's time was so unscientific. "It's like lots of little fishing hooks stuck in a piece of cloth. You have to carefully unhook each one, being careful not to tug too hard and damage the cloth."

"The cloth is the soul?"

"Yes." Jaune brought his hands up to touch his chest and then let them fall. He was exhausted mentally more than physically, but now was not the time for self-experimentation. "I think I can get this off, after a rest anyway. I think I could apply it to a person too, though I'm not sure why I'd want to. No, well, there is one idea…"

"Salem."

He nodded. Salem's body and soul were immortal, but it wasn't like Ozma, where the soul would constantly leave the body to find a new host. Salem was locked into her body, which raised the interesting proposition of what would happen if he tampered with that. Could he damage or destroy her soul? Could he pull it out like Winter's had been, then leave her immortal soul trapped in some vessel away from an equally immortal but unresponsive body? That sounded like a torture he shouldn't wish on anyone, but it would be a way to deal with Salem once and for all.

"Wouldn't it be ironic to turn Watts' idea against her." Raven said, laughing cruelly. "It would even avoid what Jinn said. I asked how we could kill her, and she said we could not. This isn't killing her, though. We're imprisoning her." Raven snorted. "Stupid blue bitch."

"Jinn is specific by design," Jaune said tiredly. "Not by choice."

"Whatever. Let's leave the body here." Raven eyed Watts and snorted. "The animals can take care of it. Do you think you have enough to put Winter's soul back in her body?"

"I'm not sure."

"You were able to take Watts' soul out…"

"I know. He died before I could try putting it back in." The shock, perhaps, or lack of aura or the suddenness with which he did it. There could be any reason. He wasn't exactly a professional at this. "I didn't get a chance to practice it. I…" He squeezed the bridge of his nose, head pounding. "I don't want to fuck it up and destroy Winter's soul."

"Not to sound harsh…" Raven said quietly. "But it's either you try something and she maybe dies, or you leave it be and she definitely dies. If it's death either way, I think she'd rather you pick the route with a chance of survival, even if it's small."

"I know that! I just… I'd like more practice first."

"Ripping souls out?"

"With magic. I already need to take mine and Cinder's marks off. That'll be a chance to get some fine control." And the one put on his younger self, though that one wasn't active.

"Not yours first."

"Huh?"

"Cinder's. If it's still practice, risk her life before yours."

"Oh right. Yeah sure, I'm not going to take any risks-"

"I know you," Raven said. "I know you better than anyone else in this time thanks to what Jinn put in my head. Maybe I know you better than yourself. If you have to risk someone's eternal soul, make it Cinder's. Don't let your heart get in the way."

What heart? He'd basically experimented on a man until he died from having his soul sucked out. There wasn't much heart left. Cinder had killed Pyrrha, too. Why did Raven think he was going to go easy on the girl after that? If he had easy access to Tyrian, he'd have been the next test subject anyway.

"It's fine," he said. "I won't take any dumb risks."

/-/

Salem hadn't realised Watts was gone by morning the next day when Jaune woke in his manor in Vale and rubbed at his eyes. The brand on his chest remained, stark and black against his skin, and he expected it would be a source of agony when she eventually found out about her pet doctor. Tyrian was right – Salem would immediately know who was responsible for the loss, and he doubted she'd be forgiving.

It might be a good idea to get this off before then.

That would rip off the façade that he was on her side, but at this point he'd already used that to its fullest, killing two and slowly turning Cinder away. Tyrian would never abandon his goddess, so he'd have to die with her, but the rest had been handled. He wasn't even sure she could enact her plans anymore this generation since he'd taken out Hazel, Watts and the White Fang.

What was left? Cinder enacting the fall of Beacon again? She'd need a much bigger army than the last time. If she even cared to try since she was already the Summer Maiden now. Without Mercury and Emerald to help her, she was far weaker. Roman and Neo were accounted for as well.

"All that's left is Salem and Tyrian…"

His doorbell rang.

Jaune sighed and climbed out of bed, pulling on a jacket and some pants before making his way downstairs. The doorbell had gone off a number of times since, with Jaune shouting out, "I'm coming. Have some patience." Reaching the ground floor, he yawned again and made his way over, unlocking and wrenching open the door.

"Hey." Summer stood awkwardly on the other side.

"Hey," he replied flatly. "Is there a reason you're here so early? It's…" He checked his scroll. "One in the afternoon... Okay. Never mind. What's wrong?"

"Ozpin wants to speak with you."

"Of course he does." Groaning, Jaune stepped back inside, leaving the door open for Summer to follow and look around. "Give me a second to get ready. I slept late."

"I can tell. Do you want me to make you some food?"

"Nah. I'll grab a bun on the way."

An hour and a half, one sausage and onion bap and a short Bullhead flight later found them arriving in Vale. The flight helped wake him up and he stretched his muscles as they came down the ramp onto the grounds during what must have been afternoon lessons for the students. Jaune followed Summer to the central elevator and stepped in with her, taking it up to Ozpin's office.

Here we go. I wonder what it is this time.

The elevator door opened into Ozpin's office and for once Glynda wasn't there, probably off teaching class. The young boy sat behind the desk, Oscar's body looking too small for its surroundings. In the previous lifetime Oscar had been left with control most of the time, but now Jaune wasn't sure if he was even there anymore.

"Jaune." The tone of voice said it was Ozma again. "Come in. Come in. Yourself as well, Summer. Would you like some coffee? Tea?"

He was in a good moon. Jaune accepted some tea and took a seat, while Summer did the same but waved the drink off. Weird. I expected him to be angry about the news from Ironwood. Not happy.

"Did you get the report from James?" Jaune asked.

"I did!" Ozpin continued to smile. "A shame, I'm sure, but discovering that Salem planned something with the CCT is valuable in itself. I've accepted James' offer to run through our systems."

"It's a shame he got away."

"Hmmm." Ozpin eyed him shrewdly. "Perhaps you can confirm that the next time Salem summons you. I have a suspicion that he may not have survived the escape attempt."

Jaune gave nothing away. "Really? Why?"

"Oh, call it a hunch."

He knew. Or he suspected to the point of being almost certain. To be fair, James probably assumed it as well, but all Jaune had cared about was making it less than certain. As long as they didn't know for sure that he'd offed Watts, he could deny any accusations.

"I truly believe Watts is dead." Ozpin went on. "And that means Salem has lost most of her forces. With the White Fang committed to peace Under Mr Taurus and Mrs Belladonna, and with their latest attempt to subvert our infrastructure thwarted, Salem has never been weaker. We've all but guaranteed ourselves a peaceful generation."

"Really!?" Summer gasped.

"I'm almost sure of it. Jaune is, of course, not truly loyal to Salem, and Tyrian will be needed to defend her interests. He's not a subtle opponent by any means."

"Isn't it a little too early to talk of victory?" Jaune asked.

"Not at all. Salem may believe she has you, but we know that to be false. What is she going to do with only Tyrian? Once James has finished wiping the last vestiges of Watts' virus from the CCT, Salem will be left with nothing but a single loyal huntsman. No plans, no resources and no subordinates to work with. Not even Lionheart anymore."

Ozpin laughed brightly, looking more alive than he had for a long time. No wonder. He thought this over. He was convinced Salem would fall back. And she would. There was no way she could continue her plans without Watts, Hazel or the virus used to strike down the CCT. If Cinder was told to attack Beacon now during the Vytal Festival, she'd be swatted down with ease.

I've stopped the fall of Beacon, he realised. No virus means no CCT, and no White Fang means no distractions. Beacon won't fall, Pyrrha won't die, and everyone won't have to run through Mistral fighting Tyrian, Hazel and Cinder along the way.

But Salem was still alive, still out there, and she'd be coming back sooner or later. Maybe it would take ten years or even fifty, but she would return. This wasn't over. They hadn't won anything more than a break.

"If I know her, she will retreat from this," Ozpin went on, mistaking Jaune's silence for joy. "Her plans have been thwarted at every stage, her support base reduced, and now is the time for her to lick her wounds, recruit anew and plot for a future time. For now, however, we've won."

"That's great news! Jaune," she said happily. "Isn't that amazing?"

"It is." He leaned forward, eyes narrowed. "We should strike now before she has a chance to gather new forces. This is our best opportunity."

Attack, storm her tower and kill her once and for all. It would take time to gather the four relics, but he already had one, and they could get Cinder to release unto them the Relic of Destruction. Choice was easily accessible to Ozpin, and Creation could be fetched at a moment's notice. With those together, and with Watts and Hazel dead and Cinder distracted, it would be so much easier to end Salem. A combined force of the best huntsmen and huntresses supported by Ironwood's armada.

"Let us not be hasty." Ozpin said.

"Hasty?" Jaune asked, as confused as he was amused. "What's hasty about this? It's like you said, she's at her weakest. We're strong. You have more active huntsmen now than you have for a long time." He banged his hand on the desk. "We should attack her. Finish her."

"I exist in the body of a child. Lionheart was a traitor. Atlas has suffered a cyber-attack. The Vytal Festival approaches." Ozpin trailed off. "We're hardly at our best, Jaune, and I don't think it's wise to reach out and risk everything now. We have an all but certain victory. Salem will have to retreat. This is a time for us to consolidate and build our forces, to locate, secure and train the maidens. To prepare and strengthen humanity-"

"So the next generation can fight?" Jaune demanded harshly.

"So that they can be prepared." Ozpin reasoned. "So that they can be ready, and perhaps so that they will not have to fight."

"Or we could strike and end this now. We could attack, finish her and make it so that the next generation doesn't need to fight a battle we couldn't be bothered to finish."

Summer looked between them anxiously. It wasn't in her nature to leave an issue be, that Jaune knew, but he also knew from Taiyang that she wanted to spend more time with her children. She wanted to slow down, retire and live a normal life. The idea of being able to call her work done was warring with the possibility of Ruby and Yang having to pick it up in the future.

"It's not that simple." Ozpin said wearily. "You know she is dangerous, and you know the risks involved in bringing the Relics together. Our victory would be almost certain, yes, but what if we failed? What if something went wrong and we were to deliver the relics to her? What then, Mr Ashari?"

That hadn't stopped Ozpin the last time, though maybe that was because the world was already doomed, because Salem had won in all but name and the only thing left was to try one last spiteful gambit. Ozpin and Salem were acting like superpowers with weapons of mass destruction, refusing to use them until all was lost anyway and they would throw them out to spit in the other's eye.

Jaune hadn't factored that in. He'd assumed Ozpin would want to recreate the last timeline and risk everything to kill Salem. That was wrong. The only reason Ozpin did that was because all else was lost, because it was the last option. Now, Beacon was still alive. The Kingdoms were stable.

Why risk that by provoking Salem? Why not let her retreat and build her forces anew? Better to risk fresh bloodshed in twenty or thirty years than risk everything on a final attack. Ozpin was scared. Or maybe he was too eager to accept this false peace.

"If we let her go now, we're condemning our children to do all this again!" Jaune shouted, slamming his mug down and rising to his feet. Summer jumped up to try and calm him, but he shook her off. "You're asking me to let her go, to let her have all the time in the world to build her forces, after all the work we've done? We should finish the job!"

"Were this anyone else, I would agree!" Ozpin shouted back at him. "But you are dealing with an immortal. Sit down, Mr Ashari." The small boy pointed his mug at Jaune's empty seat. "Let us talk about this like adults."

He wanted to throw the chair at Ozpin, but Summer pulled him back into the seat, stroking his arm like he was a wild animal. "I think I share some of Jaune's concerns," she said diplomatically. "Is this really wise, Ozpin? Ruby and Yang will have to continue the fight. I'm strong enough if you need me. Qrow and Taiyang would rise up. Maybe even Raven-"

"It's not about numbers, Summer. We have the advantage as Jaune says. Now is a good time to strike from a strategic point of view. The issue is what our objective would be. Or what it should be. Are we seeking to forever eradicate her and the Grimm threat? That's impossible."

Liar. The Grimm, yes, but Salem could be killed.

"Our goals should be to bring peace," he continued. "You're a huntress, Summer, but being a huntress does not mean going after every Grimm on Remnant. It means protecting people, settlements and families. If nowhere was under attack, would you go wandering into the forests in search of Grimm?"

"No…"

"Exactly. You would let the Grimm exist so long as they are not harming anyone. That is how it should be, otherwise we would have huntsmen fighting and dying for no purpose. It is the same here. If Salem wishes to retreat, if she wishes to concede, why should we force the war?" He spread his hands, smiling widely. "We have won. This is our victory. The Kingdoms will know peace the likes of which they haven't for decades. We can strengthen the academies, fortify the walls, prepare the future huntsmen and ensure that when Salem does come back, Remnant is stronger than ever, more prepared than we were to throw her back into the shadows."

The idea was catching on with Summer. Ozpin had probably already shared it with Taiyang, Qrow and the rest. It was so easy – so simple. Just accept that they'd won, let Salem slink away and spend the rest of your life in peace. Jaune wanted it as much as the next man, but then he wasn't just of this generation. He was the next. It was his that fought and died.

"I won't have Emerald and Vernal do the same!" he snapped.

Summer flinched. "What? What same…?"

He stood panting, lost for a moment and looking between them both. "I won't have them facing the same we did," he lied, recovering as best he could. "If we back off now, we're making them finish what we started. I'm not accepting that."

"It's already decided." Ozpin said. "We can't throw ourselves at her. If she wishes to retreat, we shall let her." He tried to lower his voice into something calm and kindly, but Oscar's vocal cords weren't mean for it. He sounded childish. "This really is the best result, Jaune. We've won for now. Take the victory for what it is and don't risk your life looking for more." He smiled. "A warrior needs to know when it's time to hang up their sword."

Jaune spun on his heel and stormed away, knocking his chair down as he went.

"Jaune!" Summer yelled, standing.

"Let him be, Summer," Ozpin said. The elevator door closed, taking Jaune down. "Let him have some time to think."

"Sir…" Summer bit her lip but did sit again. "Is this really the right thing to do? I'm happy you think the fighting might be over but I kind of agree with Jaune. It doesn't feel right to let Salem leave. She'll be back, won't she?"

"Certainly. Maybe not in ten years, twenty or even fifty. It could take her time to gather her forces anew, but she will return. One day or another. There is no stopping that. Mr Ashari is simply angry," he reasoned. "He's a man who wants to see everything through to the end, who won't be satisfied with anything other than complete victory. I can respect that. We need people like that. However, Salem was never going to be an issue we could fully solve. The best we can ever win is a reprieve. You should all be happy with that."

Summer smiled faintly, happy – undeniably so – but also concerned. She wasn't sure why. Like Ozpin said, they'd always dedicated themselves to fighting Salem back. Well, she was being pushed back. Wasn't this what they wanted? They'd won. They'd done it.

"Mr Ashari will realise in time this is the correct course of action." Ozpin continued. "For now, he's angry. For what happened to Winter, for our losses and at Salem in general. He will need time to calm down, to accept a more peaceful way of life."

Summer nodded, thinking of those veteran huntsmen or soldiers who struggled to slip back into normal society once the conflict was over. For some, they were changed in ways they couldn't describe, while others were too emotionally attached. They wanted to finish the battle once and for all, be that for good or ill.

"Be there for him if he needs it," Ozpin said. "He will need good friends around him and we both know his trust for me is thin. He is like Raven in that regard." Ozpin waved a hand when Summer made to argue. "I only mean in that he has little faith in me, not his personality or character. It's fine, Summer. Whether he trusts me or not, Jaune was willing to work with me against Salem. That makes him an ally in my books. Try not to dwell on it. We've beaten her back, Summer. Take joy in that, and in your family. I think we've all earned the chance to take it easy."

For Summer, the promise of happier times was all it took. Her worry was forgotten, a beautiful smile taking over her face. "You're right. I can't wait to tell Qrow and Taiyang the good news!"

/-/

Jaune glared at Qrow's message inviting him out for celebratory drinks, silenced his scroll and then tossed it into the corner of the room. He had his own drink – neat whiskey – and he was a quarter of the way through a bottle, head pounding and blood rushing in his ears.

Victory. Is that what they were calling this?

Salem wasn't defeated. At best, this was a setback. She'd retreat to lick her wounds and come back. Maybe he wouldn't be alive when that happened, but she would. Someone else would have to deal with her and her new followers. Some other team, some other Jaune and maybe some other Pyrrha would die in the process. It'd all be someone else. He could live a good life with Emerald and Vernal, focus on fixing Winter, bring Cinder to the good side and retire to see if Emerald got with Sun, Whitley or maybe developed feelings for someone else entirely.

A simple life. A good life.

And all I have to do is condemn someone else to go through the hell we did.

Not. Fucking. Likely. Jaune downed another swig, threw himself back into an armchair and groaned up at the ceiling. Maybe the smarter play was to do as Ozpin said and back out the fight. He'd only come back to save his friends, hadn't he? Mission accomplished. They were all safe and sound. Unless Salem pulled something out her ass – and she had nothing – the fall of Beacon would never happen. Crisis averted. He'd done what he set out to.

Wasn't that enough?

It didn't feel like enough.

Salem had been dead the last time, or on the verge of it. She'd struck a deal to preserve her life, and if he gave up now then that meant she'd won. It'd mean her gambit worked. Sure, she wouldn't crush Beacon and send Remnant into a dark age like she wanted, but she could handle waiting another hundred years to make that happen. As long as dust didn't run out, she had all the time in the world, and now that she'd made him and the SDC aware of the danger, they'd still focus on their alternative energy.

From her point of view, she hadn't really lost anything. Only Hazel and Watts, two very replaceable people. Given the sheer number of strong people on Ozpin's side, the winning play for her really was to wait for him, Summer, Qrow, Ironwood and all the rest of Ozma's pawns to die of old age.

"That's not my business," he said out loud. "I came back to stop everyone dying. I've done that. I won. I can spend the rest of my life making sure Salem never comes back. Isn't that enough?"

No one answered, but then he was asking himself anyway. His current self or his past self. He'd been selfish when he came back, throwing away a world without Salem for the chance to save his friends, so he was sure his past self would have been happy with this turn of events. Sure, he wasn't on Team JNPR and Team JNPR weren't even a thing, but Ren, Nora and Pyrrha were all happy. In some ways, they were happier now than they had been with him, especially Pyrrha having her family issues resolved and her sister alive.

Weiss, too. The problems with Winter notwithstanding, her family life was a hundred times better, along with her relationship with her father and brother. No longer heiress and with the SDC taking a more faunus-friendly outlook, she was free from pressure and able to be what she wanted.

Ruby and Yang had their family back and didn't have a care in the world. Yang had her arm, Ruby had her mom, and Taiyang was so much more alive than he had been before, to say nothing of Qrow surviving his encounter with the Summer Maiden this time around.

The only one unhappy was Blake, but he had a feeling the Blake of his time would have forgiven him it. He'd brought about the end of the White Fang, redeemed Adam and helped bring the SDC around. It had cost Ghira his life, but she'd understand he hadn't done that, nor had a choice in the matter.

Everyone was better off. Everyone was happier than they had been, especially compared to the end of it all where they'd all died. Sun, Neptune, Emerald, Cinder, Vernal, heck, even Raven. They were all better off for this. So why? Why was it so hard to accept that they'd won?

"Because we haven't." He pressed the cool bottle against his forehead, staring through the amber liquid. "We haven't won until Salem is dead. Until both she and Ozma are dead, and this is all over."

No one else seemed to agree, however. No, that wasn't true. Ozpin didn't – of course he didn't, he was too used to trying to keep the peace, trying to fight Salem back. He had the weight of the world on his shoulders and had convinced himself he was the sole defender of humanity. Therefore, he couldn't possibly take the risk of collecting the relics and going after Salem. It was too much a risk. His only goal was protecting humanity.

The same went for Qrow, Summer and the others. Raven had been right about them. They were good people – the best of people – but they'd spent over twenty years listening to Ozpin. They trusted him, but he wasn't about to change their minds anytime soon, not if Raven hadn't been able to. If Taiyang and Summer wouldn't believe their own teammate over Ozpin, they weren't going to believe him.

There were a few others that might, however. If Ozpin wouldn't take the fight to Salem, he would just have to do it on his own. He already had one Relic, along with a connection to each of the maidens required to access the other three.

"I'll finish this," Jaune promised. "Even if no one else will."

Just like me talking to myself about Relic when it's gone on way longer than it should have, lol. Still, we are in the final arc of the story now. On Ozpin, I do think he would do this, and I don't even think he would be wrong to. His god-appointed job is to kill Salem, but he's taken it less as kill Salem and more protect humanity, at least from what we see. After all, he never even bothered to go after her until she brought Beacon down.

Next Chapter: 10th April (UPDATED)

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