Just to let people know, there will be no chapter on the 15th August as I have a family event I need to attend. Going to involve a lot of travel and time in rural Wales. All quite dull – the travel, I mean, not Wales – and it's going to eat into any time I have to write. Things will be normal week after.

Cover Art: Mystery White Flame

Chapter 21

"I-"

"Don't." Jaune held up a hand. "Say it."

Blake scowled and crossed her arms, looking down her nose at the man who has her professor and headmaster. "That's hardly fair. I have an entire speech memorised, not to mention an interpretive song and dance dedicated to the concept of my having told you so. I put real effort into this. As a teacher, shouldn't you encourage my creativity by listening to it?"

"As a teacher, I'm encouraging the development of your real-life skills by granting you the rare and absolutely benign opportunity to do paperwork." Jaune indicated the desk. "You should be grateful. Not many students get a chance to gain real world experience like this."

"Aren't you afraid I'll abuse your trust by forging a letter on your behalf again?"

He laid a hand on her shoulder. "I trust you, Blake."

"You shouldn't." Blake looked ill. "I was once a terrorist, once a monster, and I've let you down once, professor. You shouldn't trust me. In fact, you should put me in confinement and keep me away from all important and confidential documents."

"Nice try, but you're not getting out of doing the paperwork." He pushed her at the desk. "Go."

"Ugh." Blake sagged, giving up and plodding to the desk with the look of the damned. "Can I at least sign your signature as `Jaune – Blake told you so – Arc`?"

"No. And I told you not to say it."

"Oops. Must have slipped my mind."

Yeah, he'd bet. He watched Blake sit down with a cheerier expression with a foul one of his own. It was probably better she settled herself with this than going and hunting down Sienna, but he'd have rather she bothered her team, Peter, Bart or anyone else that wasn't him. To be fair, he could have had that. All he needed to do was release her from her eternal paperwork-detention with him.

And do it himself…

Not happening.

"How is Oscar settling into your team?"

"I told you – oh, Oscar?" Blake looked up and blinked innocently. He didn't buy it for a second. "He's doing alright, better than alright, actually. I really thought there was going to be some issues over him taking Weiss' spot, but he was quite clear on not usurping it. Did you tell him to say that?"

"No. He is… quite mature for his age."

"Hm, in some things. There are times when he feels as old as us, then times when he feels like a child. Ruby has pretty much adopted him as a little brother. I think she likes the idea of not being the youngest on the team anymore. Or of having someone look up to her."

"Ruby is a skilled huntress. Why would people look down on her?"

"No, I mean literally having to look up to her." Blake made a line with her hand in the air, roughly indicating Ruby's height. Oscar was shorter than it.

"Ah. I see. Poor Ruby. There haven't been any problems, then?"

"None. He's very careful not to approach the bathroom when we're using it, he eats with us, RVNN and CRDL at mealtimes and he doesn't have enough belongings to make a mess." Blake looked up. "That reminds me. Yang was asking if we could have a budget to go get him some stuff. He's been wearing your clothes for a couple of days now." She blinked again. "Also, he may have taken that personally."

"Taken what personally…?"

"Your joke."

Jaune stared at her. "Joke…?"

"The onesie?"

"My favourite onesie? Why is that a joke?"

"Favourite…?" Blake stared at him and leaned back. "You know what, I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear that. And not tell Yang or Ruby. It would probably shatter some important part of their lives at Beacon. Either way, Oscar needs new clothes."

"I'll have something set aside. I'll give Team RWBY Friday off from classes to get him equipped."

Her ears perked up. "Really?"

"For the express purpose of getting him equipped. Not so that you and your team can go mess around in Vale and skip class. I expect him to come back with clothing, supplies and equipment he can use in class. And I'll be holding you responsible if he doesn't."

"What? Why me?"

"Because who else can I hold responsible on your team with Weiss gone?"

Blake considered that for a second. "That's fair…"

"How is Oscar in class?"

"He's doing poorly but that's to be expected. He's new." She shrugged and signed a document, setting it aside and onto a pile of others she was working through. "He's faster to learn the theory than the practical. I think he needs to build up stamina and muscle mass. Yang is helping with the latter and I'm making him jog for the former."

Jaune leaned on the desk. He'd expected Yang and Ruby to take to and help him, but Blake? "I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised you're getting on with him." He laughed when Blake shot him an evil glare. "Not to say you're unreasonable-" Even if she was, "-but you're not usually one to accept someone so easily, which makes sense given how many people have let you down."

"I do have reason to be paranoid, yes, but he seems okay. Zwei hates him."

Jaune waited for more.

It didn't come.

"Is the whole reason you like Oscar the fact that you've finally found an ally against Zwei?"

"No comment." Blake picked up some papers. "Here. These need your final signature on the bottom. You can sign where I've marked."

Jaune took them, picked up a pen and sighed.

"Most people mark the spot with an `X`, Blake. Not an `I told you so`."

"I'm not most people, headmaster. I'm a very special girl. My mother always said so."

Cheeky brat. He wondered why he put up with it, then wondered a little more as to why he was smiling ruefully. Maybe it was just their thing. Grumbling to himself and muttering how she'd be doing even more for her cheek, he started signing his name at the bottom.

/-/

Oscar, currently in control of his own body, watched curiously around mouthfuls of porridge as the burly figure of Cardin Winchester begged forgiveness from his girlfriend, Velvet, who ignored every word to cross his lips and focused on her breakfast. It was by all means a rather pathetic display, yet he couldn't tear his eyes off it, nor could Yang, Ruby, Pyrrha or anyone else at the table.

"Premium street theatre," Ozpin remarked.

"This isn't a street," Oscar sent back.

He could feel Ozpin rolling his eyes.

Cardin waxed poetical about Velvet's skill, her determination and the way she moved when fighting. It was a little different to how people on the TV complimented one another, which tended to be about looks. Velvet was pretty, but she didn't stand out as much as Yang, Blake or Ruby did. Even so, Cardin could have complimented her looks but chose not to. Maybe he knew something Oscar didn't. Though, if he did, it wasn't working very well.

"What happened?" he whispered to Ren, unable to control his curiosity any further. Yang and Ruby leaned in, desperate to know the same but a little better in holding out than him.

"Cardin went to counselling yesterday."

"Oohhh…" Yang and Ruby said as one.

"What?" Oscar asked. "What? I don't get it. Is she angry because he has problems he didn't trust her with? Isn't that unfair?"

"He went to counselling without having much in the way of problems. Or if he does, he isn't prepared to give them to clear his name. Let's just say a lot of guys have been going to counselling lately, and not because they have issues. Miss Jinn is…" Ren coughed, and his cheeks darkened. "Certainly an interesting person."

Nora watched him like a hawk. Her eyes narrowed.

"Y-Yeah," Yang laughed. "Interesting. Heh…"

"Miss Xiao-Long knows the truth," Ozpin said. "But she knows she can't reveal it. Jinn is not a person at all, but the Spirit of Knowledge."

Oscar's head perked up. "The blue woman with no clothes?"

"I should have known it was that you'd remember…"

To Ren, he said, "So Velvet is angry because Cardin went to see Miss Jinn? Or is it because he isn't telling her the reason why?"

"A little of either column, I imagine."

"Aren't you team leader? Shouldn't you step in…?"

"Cardin isn't a member of my team, and I know better than to involve myself in something like this."

"Ren!" Velvet yelled. "If you happen to see Cardin, tell him that he's a pig and I hate him."

On the floor beside her, Cardin wilted.

Ren groaned. "I just said I didn't want to be involved…"

Oscar sat back with the girls of his team while Ren made an excuse to visit the bathroom and fled like the brave, brave man he was. Velvet tried to ask the same of Nora, but she'd already turned with a wide-eyed expression to begin a very fast and very loud conversation with Pyrrha. Pyrrha joined in eagerly, both looking away from Velvet so as not to be roped in.

The three members of Team RWBY did the same, huddling together. He felt happy that they'd include him in their little huddle. "Do we get involved?" he asked.

"Hell no," Yang said. "We make bets. I say they'll be back to making out by tomorrow morning."

"Sunday," Ruby said.

"Wednesday next week. Miss Scarlatina is stubborn."

"Isn't it wrong to bet on them like this…?"

"Eh. Cardin went and acted like an idiot. But he is an idiot so it's kind of expected. I don't think he meant anything nasty by it and he does idolise Velvet. We don't need to get involved to fix it; we'd just make it worse."

"I wonder if Miss Jinn really is good at being a counsellor," Ruby mused.

"Thinking of going?"

"I'm happy where I am, but I'm just curious. All anyone talks about is how she doesn't wear any clothes. No one actually says if she's good or bad at her job." Ruby's eyes widened suddenly. "B-But I mean, if Jaune hired her then she's definitely good."

"I think she knows a thing or two," Yang said meaningfully.

"Ha. Hilarious. And Jinn is wearing clothes now, or so I assumed."

"I thought she was wearing clothes," Oscar said for Ozpin's benefit.

"Oh, she is. Just… well, she's really tall and stacked. And blue." Yang shrugged. "I don't think she's running around naked anymore, but even so, she stands out as the most exotic person who probably exists on this planet right now. But I have to admit, I'm kinda curious as to whether she can do her job or not. I don't think she's bad for the job or anything, just curious how she pulls it off."

"Yang knows Jinn can't answer any questions and must be wondering how useful such a person could be. I'll admit, I've had the same thoughts."

"Maybe Oscar could go see her!" Ruby said.

"Eh-!?" Oscar leaned back. "B-But I don't have any issues."

"It's counselling, Oscar, not a psychiatric appointment. Pyrrha went because she was having trouble making friends. Maybe you could go and say you're having trouble fitting in due to age stuff."

"I don't know…"

"Pleaaassseeeee?" Ruby asked, leaning in with large, wide eyes. "Pleasseee?"

"Stand firm. Stand firm."

"W-Well, if you really want me to…" He looked away bashfully.

"Damn it, Oscar!"

Ruby giggled and clapped happily. Oscar looked down at the floor, cheeks heating up. He had to ignore Ozpin's ranting in his head about being so easily swayed. Was it so bad if it made Ruby happy? Besides, it wasn't like she was asking him to do anything bad or break any rules.

"I'm washing my hands of this," Yang said.

"Why?" Ruby asked. "You want to know as well."

"Oh, I am curious. I'm just washing my hands of the idea of tricking her. And I'm saying it out loud right now so that any blue counsellor listening in knows." Her words earned a few odd looks, along with a quiet chuckle from Ozpin.

Eventually, Ruby convinced him to go straight after dinner, with a promise that they'd be waiting for his return and would play some video games before Yang took him to Beacon's gym for weightlifting and muscle exercises.

To his surprise, he enjoyed those. They were more interesting than Blake's early morning training that consisted of running, running, running, more running and then some stretching. He liked the stretching part-

"You like when Miss Belladonna stretches."

But the running was awful. Necessary, but awful. He at least knew why they did it though, so he accepted it and did his best so as not to disappoint them. Yang's training was somehow easier for him. It was less that he was any better at it – he wasn't – but the fact that her training was quicker, harder and less boring. He came out with sore muscles and felt it the next day, but it wasn't as dull as being made to jog around the same track for forty-five minutes.

"And Miss Xiao-Long wears her gym clothes and gets sweaty."

"Do you have to make everything I do sound perverted?"

"When it is your every thought, yes."

Oscar grumbled under his breath. It felt good to speak to him out loud; something he could only do when he was away from Team RWBY. He'd been allowed to do so in detention the other night with Professor Port – the detention that wasn't a detention – or more accurately, a detention that felt like it was punishment for Ozpin, pleasure for him.

He'd enjoyed it.

"Peter is a petty son of a bitch. After all I did for him…"

"You mean ignoring all your work and making him, Miss Goodwitch and Mr Arc do it all?"

"Making Glynda and Jaune do it," Ozpin said. "Don't be fooled into thinking Peter was any better than I. Any claims to have filed his work correctly or on time are as fanciful as his tales of being a young huntsman. Sometimes I wonder if Peter is the same as Jaune, and if he isn't just being much more obvious about his lies." Ozpin muttered in his head. "Ah, we're here."

Miss Jinn's door was a red wooden one with a silver plaque fixed to the front. It had her name stencilled into it, along with her title of `Student Counsellor` below. Under that was a quote of some kind, or a saying.

`A Counsellor's job is to help you find the answer, not to answer your questions`.

"Ha." Oscar laughed. "That's kind of fitting since she can't answer any."

"I thought so as well," a feminine voice said through the door. "Come on in, Oscar. And being Ozpin with you."

He jumped. Had she-?

"The door is unlocked."

Blushing, Oscar pushed the door open and poked his head inside. The interior was surprisingly wild. It was clean, but only technically so. There was no mess or clutter on the floor, but it felt like every available piece of wall space had a poster on it, be they of movies, musical bands or other things. There were comics and books everywhere, and a TV at the back wall with a veritable mountain of movie and series box sets beside it.

In the centre, however, was a low table with a tea set on it, two mugs steaming gently away. Three seats sat around it, upon one of which sat Miss Jinn, bright blue from head to toe but now wearing a tight-fitting black secretarial business suit. The skirt clung to her hips and fell to mid-thigh, while the white blouse was pulled tight over her assets. Even though she'd dressed up, she somehow looked even more eye-catching than before. He swallowed and tried to look away.

"I appreciate the effort," Jinn said, smiling at him. "It's not quite so easy for me to not draw attention, especially when I am, as you've noticed, bright blue. And yes, my breasts look big in this. My figure is a little larger than what most women's fashion brands allow."

Oscar's mouth hung open. "I-I didn't- I wasn't…"

"Weren't looking? Oh, you were. Don't worry, everyone does." She winked at him. "Take a seat, please. I made some tea for you. No, I'm sorry, Ozpin, I cannot make you your coffee. You see, it is not that I do not know the recipe but that I lack the ingredients."

"Tell me what those are, and I shall procure them."

"Um. He says-"

Jinn cut him off with a hand. "I know what he said, Oscar. You need not translate. And I cannot, Ozpin, for revealing the ingredients would require a question."

"Alas. In a hundred years, I will ask again."

"Are you really going to use one of three wishes per century to ask how to make coffee!?" Oscar yelled.

"Yes. Absolutely. And no, that is not wasteful. It may well take me ten thousand years to defeat Salem. I'm not going to be living all those ten thousand years without a good cup of coffee."

Oscar groaned. He took the cup of coffee and brought it to his lips. His eyes widened. It tasted good! Really, really good! He didn't even think he liked tea, but this… it was something he felt he could drink for the rest of his life.

"I'm glad you like it," Jinn said. "Though I knew you would. As I knew you would be coming today."

"Ozpin said you couldn't see the future," Oscar whispered.

"I cannot. But I knew the moment you made your plan, and the moment you set off to meet me." Her eyes twinkled. "And be sure to tell Yang I don't hold her to blame. She washed her hands off this, after all. Oh, and poor Mr Winchester. I'd tell you to say something to him and Velvet, but I can't. Anything I said to him, I cannot reveal to you without a question being used." She laid her hands in her lap and smiled at him. "So, you're here to satisfy the curiosity of your team, and to see how I operate in helping students."

"Um." He wasn't sure what to say. She knew from the start. Of course she knew. "This is-"

"Awkward? Yes, I know. It's been such for a few of those I've helped. Though, of course, there are many more who just came to have a look at me."

He could see why.

"Thank you. That's very sweet of you to think. And my eyes are up here."

Oscar's face burned red. His eyes shot from her legs to her face.

"So, you haven't come with any specific problems but that's not to say you both don't have many. Ozpin's, I cannot truly reveal, at least not the hidden ones. Oh, but he has a problem with your thoughts towards your teammates, of course."

"Can you blame me?"

"I can't." Jinn giggled into her hand. "But neither can one blame Oscar for it. He's a young man surrounded by attractive older women who far outweigh his expectations for such. It makes sense he cannot take his eyes off Yang's bombastic personality, Ruby's adorable features or Blake's long, smooth legs."

"Can we not!?" Oscar cried out.

"Why?" Ozpin asked sarcastically. "The very fact Jinn can say it means it's a secret to absolutely no one."

"Still! It's embarrassing to have it said out loud!"

Suddenly, he could understand why so many of the people who had spuriously gone to Miss Jinn hadn't returned for a second or third visit. The way she called out your innermost problems while casually smiling like that, looking so beautiful and unassuming-

"Oh, Oscar. You'll make me blush."

While also reading your mind! Or knowing what you were thinking! He flushed and covered his face with both hands. You'd think her knowing would make this easier somehow, like it's nothing new being revealed so I shouldn't be embarrassed. Some things are better left unsaid, though.

"I'm not quite this bad with just anyone. You and Ozpin are something of an exception, for obvious reasons. I dare say Yang would be as well, but I doubt she will be coming to visit. I tone down the `know it all` around other people."

Oh goodie. It was just him that got teased, then.

"Pretty much." Jinn giggled again. "Forgive me, though. I've been trapped within a Relic for the past however many centuries. This is my first time to really be out stretching my legs and interacting with people, so I'm enjoying it while I can." She waved to the various box sets, books and comics around the room. "Your culture is so exciting and interesting."

"Don't you know the ending to every movie before you watch it? Even if you don't see the future, the movie is already made, so you'd know what the story and climax is."

"That's true, Ozpin, but don't we often know the ending anyway? I think anyone who watches a romance can quickly figure out if they get together or not by the end, and no one expects the lone wolf soldier fighting against terrorists to actually fail and die. Most of the time, we know what happens before the movie gets there but that doesn't impact one's enjoyment."

"I see." Ozpin was uncomfortably silent. "For what little it may be worth, I apologise if I treated you unfairly. I kept the Relics secret to protect them from Salem, not because I derived any pleasure in sequestering you away. Had I known then I might at least have filled the Vault with material to entertain you…"

"I know." Jinn's expression became a little kinder. "And I've always known, Ozpin. Remember, I'm the Spirit of Knowledge. Your reasons have ever been obvious to me and I do not judge them as callous or cruelly done. You did what you felt you had to. Though, a little material next time would be appreciated."

"Thank you, Jinn. And I will see it done. A hundred years' worth of books and movies is not an unfair thing to ask. Again, I apologise. But I suppose it's unnecessary. You know that I am sincere."

"I do." Jinn laughed again. "If nothing else, being the Spirit of Knowledge makes apologies easy, assuming one side is sincere about them. As for you, Oscar, I wouldn't worry too much about my ability to be a student counsellor. Even if I cannot answer questions, I can help guide people in the right direction. Assuming they pay attention to my words and not my thighs."

Oscar's treacherous eyes crept upward, meeting hers.

Jinn winked.

"Kill me."

"No. You deserve this."

A knock at the door interrupted them. Oscar looked up, surprised, but Jinn didn't look quite so shocked. She didn't look to the door, either. She knew who was there and why. Why hadn't she warned them?

"Because she cannot reveal knowledge."

"Come in," Jinn called.

"Jinn." Headmaster Jaune stepped into the office, then paused on seeing them. "Ozpin?"

"Oscar," he replied.

"Oscar. Sorry. I didn't realise you were busy, Jinn. I can come back later if you like?"

"That's not necessary." Jinn placed her mug down. "Oscar, Ozpin and I are mostly finished."

"Oscar, give me control for a moment."

"Alright." Oscar let himself be pushed back. Outside, all that could be seen was that he sat a little taller and his face became a little more confident. Jinn noticed or knew the moment Ozpin conceived the idea. She smiled faintly.

"Jaune, it is I," Ozpin said. "We are done here, but might I ask what you require Miss Jinn for? I expect it is not something of a school matter."

"You'd be right. I want to question Cinder with Glynda. I want Jinn there."

"You realise, of course, that I will be quite useless," Jinn said. "You cannot use me to verify the truth of anything she says, nor to reveal anything she does not wish to reveal. I cannot even react in a way that will reveal anything, so she could tell you she is a time traveller from the future and if you think for a moment that is possible, I will not even be able to show an expression of shock or disbelief."

The Relic of Knowledge had thought of all these things? No, probably not. The God of Light wasn't a being that necessarily made sense, however. Godly magic – if one wanted to call it that – was different to the power he once wielded. The God of Light could simply wave his hand and intend for a Relic which self-governed and kept itself in check, and lo and behold, such a thing would be created. It was a divine object made by a God; it did not come with flaws.

"Even so, I think it couldn't hurt to have you there. Ironwood is sending someone to question her as well, and I'd rather we have first crack at her."

"Then you will have my presence. I am your employee, after all." Jinn rose.

Ozpin did as well. "Mr Arc, I believe I should be present for this as well."

"Okay."

"I must insist. Even if I am in the body of a child, I know things you do not. Cinder Fall is an agent of Salem, my eternal enemy. It is of paramount importance I be there!"

"Okay."

"Oscar will reveal nothing. I really must insis-" Ozpin trailed off. "Wait, what did you say?"

"I said okay." Jaune shrugged. "You can come."

Ozpin stood there, mouth open.

"Did you think I'd say no?" Jaune asked, looking both confused and a little offended. "I mean, why would I? You're on our side, you've been doing this a lot longer than I have and you're the only one here who knows anything about Salem."

Jinn coughed.

"You know what I mean, Jinn. Literally, you know." He rolled his eyes and looked back to Ozpin. "So, yeah. I'm not going to keep you out of this just because you ran off to try and do your own thing or because you're in the body of a child. Cinder already knows about you, too, so it's not like we're revealing anything. You want to be there, you'll be there."

"Right. Of course." Ozpin coughed into his hand. "I forgot for a moment that I was dealing with someone with isn't unreasonable. Please forgive me. You said that Glynda was taking part as well? We shouldn't keep her waiting."

/-/

Her room was twenty feet by twenty feet, contained one bed, a bathroom without a lock and a television mounted into the wall. Even that was covered by a protective sheet that didn't allow her to break through, smash the glass and arm herself. The bathroom was made not of porcelain but some other, softer, material that served its purpose but didn't shatter.

Not that Cinder had tried.

What was the point? Where would she escape to? Would Salem even want her? Was she any use to her? Once more, she reached deep inside herself for the well of power that had once lingered there. She found nothing and her dreams sputtered and died. Her only hope, and it was a weak one, was that Salem and the others would not yet realise the Maiden's power had been taken and would spring her out in hopes of reclaiming it.

Even then, would that be an improvement? Once they did realise she would not only be useless to them, but a liability as well. Tyrian and Watts had never been shy about letting her know what they thought of her closeness to Salem. They would jump at the chance to get rid of her.

Am I really finished? Is it finally over? It seems so unfair. Not with a climactic final battle but a whimper, my eternal enemy always one step ahead.

Fury mounted inside her. Her hand snapped out, finding the plate of untouched food she'd been given an hour before. She hurled it at the wall. The potatoes splatted, the gravy splashed but the plate dented and folded like the stupid paper-cardboard thing it was. Even the cutlery was designed with safety first, and they'd given her a spork.

A fucking spork!

Not even Salem tortured her enemies so!

As if to mock her, the lock on her door buzzed and it swung outward. Glynda Goodwitch entered, followed closely by Jaune Arc, Ozpin's new body and the blue-skinned form of the Spirit of Knowledge, who for some inexplicable reason was wearing a suit.

The Spirit grinned and waved at her. Cinder hissed back.

"Good to see you as well, Cinder," Jaune said, feeling all too cocksure when surrounded by allies. She'd have told him to fight her one on one, but he'd already done that and won, and when she had the maiden's powers to boot. "I'm glad you're enjoying our hospitality, though for future reference the food goes in your mouth and not on the wall."

"Go to hell."

"See, and I thought we could be such good friends, too."

"Jaune." Ozpin spoke, placing a hand on his arm. It was a laughable sight given their respective heights. "I think that baiting Miss Fall is not a good way to foster some degree of co-operation, is it? I understand the two of you have history, but perhaps you should let someone less biased speak. Hm?"

Jaune grunted, glared at her and nodded.

"Very good." Ozpin stepped forward. "Now, Miss Fall. You must have thought yourself in the clear when you killed me but look at our situations now. Here I stand, and you, a shell of your former self. Not so cocky now, are yo-?"

"Ozpin!" Glynda snapped.

Jinn giggled away.

"Well, I never said I wasn't biased either," Ozpin admitted. "She did kill me. Didn't do a very good job of it, but then what can I say? She didn't do a good job of destroying Beacon, subverting Mr Arc or achieving Salem's goals either. A failure in every regard." He grinned as she gritted her teeth. "Salem has ever been poor at picking her helpers."

"I think that's enough." Glynda dragged Ozpin back by his collar and pushed him next to Jaune. "You two stand over there and try to at least look like the adults you're supposed to be. Goodness, why is it always my responsibility to fix your mistakes?"

"Because they're idiots," Jinn said, shaking with laughter. "And the fact I can say that is proof they all know it, even about themselves."

"Wonderful…" Glynda rolled her eyes, then hardened them on her. "Cinder Fall. As you are no doubt aware, you have been captured and the maiden's power has been taken from you. It resides once more within its rightful wielder. Given the circumstances, it's unlikely Salem will care enough to reclaim you, or to acknowledge you as hers at all."

Cinder's nails dug into her palms. She didn't speak, knowing that what was said was no question, nor a matter of question. She had failed, and this wasn't the first time. Having lost at Beacon and now again here, her position was not a strong one.

"What's more, General Ironwood is sending someone to question you as well. With the crimes you have committed, it's not impossible to imagine multiple life sentences, and once you were in prison, as weak as you are, I imagine someone would take it upon them to murder you."

"Or make you their prison bitch."

"JAUNE!" Glynda scowled at him. "The point I am making, Cinder, is that your continued survival depends on how valuable you may be to us. Salem may well send Tyrian, Watts and Hazel to silence you, but we can keep you safe. If we have reason to."

"Ha ha…"

"I assure you we're not making any jests here."

Cinder continued to laugh, loud and hard. She bent double, wiping tears from her eyes and holding onto her stomach to fight down the vomit that swelled up inside. On and on, she laughed, her body shaking violently, and her eyes scrunched shut.

What else could she do? There was nothing to do but laugh.

"Go. Leave me alone. I'm not going to tell you anything."

"What are you going to do then?" Jaune asked. "Sit there and wallow away to nothingness? That's fine with me, but it won't help you. Face it, Cinder. You're nothing anymore. All you had was your usefulness to Salem and that's gone. You can't convince-"

"She knows that." The damned Spirit of Knowledge was looking at her with a pitying smile. "All of us here know that, Jaune, so you needn't waste time saying it."

"Perhaps a little more time to consider her options is needed," Ozpin said.

"Time to stew, you mean," Cinder hissed back. "I will not break."

She derived some small pleasure from the way they scowled at her. It was petty, but it was all she had. Cinder walked to the bed and laid down, staring up at the ceiling and ignoring them all. Eventually, they got the hint and filed out. They would give her more time in solitude, and perhaps Ironwood would call for her to be tortured. Such methods were frowned on across Remnant, but she knew the world would make an exception for her.

There has to be a way to turn this to my advantage. I won't give up here.

Jaune was the last to leave, and as he did, he looked back. "I know the room is a little empty. Sorry about that. I don't actually want you to go insane or anything, so I've arranged for some TV to play while you're here. Sorry that we can't give you a remote or anything, but there's a chance you'd try to hurt yourself with it."

"Go away, Arc. You haven't won. You just think you have."

"And you're refusing to admit you've lost," he said, shrugging. "Either way, I hope you enjoy yourself. I'll come back tomorrow to chat." He left, tugging the door shut behind him. It buzzed as an electronic lock sealed, then there was a scrape as a further physical lock, likely a deadbolt and code-keyed padlock, was set into place.

Lacking windows and with the only airflow through a thin grate system between the ceiling and the wall, there was little hope of getting out. Cinder glared at the ceiling, hooking her hands behind her head and trying to fight off the boredom that had been haunting her. She couldn't even work it off through exercise thanks to the camera in the corner. If she showed how stir-crazy she was feeling, they'd start to think they were wearing her down.

The TV, within its protective casing, flickered on. Reluctantly, she looked over, more grateful than she cared to admit having something to occupy her time and mind. Rolling onto her side, she watched the screen, waiting for news or current affairs to come on. Instead, a brightly lit scene filled the screen, along with a hot air balloon.

Cinder's eyes widened.

"What is friendship all about? Friendship is magic! My little pony, My little pony~"

"ARGHHH!"

Yes, I went and watched the MLP intro on youtube for this. And yes, that now means youtube is annoyingly recommending me a whole lot of my little pony channels and content, which is rather annoying.

Omake:

Ruby sat on the sofa opposite Jinn.

Jinn blinked at her. "Wow. That is… quite the imagination for someone your age. Ahem." Colour spread across her neck. "So, you're here for advice on how to… draw the attention of a certain professor."

"Yep! And other things."

Jinn choked. "Please try not to think of the `other` things. I don't need those images."

"Heh. Sorry." Ruby picked up the tea and sipped at it, eyes widening in delight when she found it wasn't tea at all, but strawberry soda. She guzzled happily at it. "I came because Oscar said you had a way of knowing what a person wants and being able to help. I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to making someone like me and I'm competing against Yang!"

"Who does know what she is doing and is quite good at it," Jinn filled in. "Yes, I can see the issue. Well, we both know it's a matter of confidence on your side. Don't we? There's no secret there."

"I… I may be a little shy…"

Jinn stared at her.

"Maybe a lot shy," she admitted. "But I'm willing to try! I'm ready to step out my comfort zone." Ruby nodded, punching a fist into her other hand. "I know I can't win this if I don't go all out and I'm ready, Miss Jinn. I just need help finding the right angle."

"I see. It's good that you are prepared to work hard. You have… quite the extensive list of competitors."

"Yep. Yang, Miss Goodwitch and Miss Neo."

"Among others," Jinn muttered under her breath. Ruby didn't know just how difficult her stated goal was, but then it wasn't her job to dissuade someone from their dreams. Sadly, it meant her head was being filled with rather embarrassing knowledge.

When someone asked question, whether or not she could answer, Jinn's mind was inundated with information. It wasn't that it was new – the information was always there – but it was drawn to the fore when someone said it. Kind of how a person knew their birthday but wouldn't think on it until someone mentioned it, at which point they would instantly recall the exact date.

Jinn knew about Jaune and Glynda, and also knew that they'd had sex more than once. That was distant knowledge. Ruby bringing up the issue of relationships dragged that to the front of her mind, and a whimsical moment of curiosity had the entire first night playing out in all its horrifying detail in Jinn's mind.

I did not need to see that! I did not need to know that!

"M-Moving on," Jinn said, flushing even further. "What is it you find attractive about Jaune? This is important to identifying what you should do to engage him."

Again, she knew what Ruby liked, but having it said was important. Not only for the stated reasons, but so that she wasn't instantly outed as someone who could read the minds of others – even if `mind reading` wasn't what she was doing at all. She just knew what people had decided and what they liked. It was all knowledge after all, and she was the Spirit of Knowledge.

"Well, I like his personality and his willingness to help people," Ruby said. "He's always so earnest and eager with his students. Oobleck teaches because he likes history and Port is a bit focused on himself. Dad taught us because he loves us, but a lot of teachers in Signal were teaching because it was their job. You could tell that was all it was to them. But Jaune is different. He really wants us all to do well, and I like that. I like that he believes in us."

"How sweet." Jinn smiled and sipped her tea.

"And I like his shoulders. I bet he looks really good without a top."

Knowing what someone was thinking did not preclude shock. The `knowledge` Ruby was thinking of Jaune topless only filtered into her head at the moment she said it, and Jinn spat her tea back into her mug as her head was unwillingly filled with exact proof of what Jaune was like under his top. Her face turned pink.

"And I bet he's really handsome all over."

In her head, the `knowledge` of Jaune's body was updated with his trousers missing.

No, no, no! I don't want that knowledge! Take it away!

"B-But I'm kinda nervous," Ruby said. "I mean, I know what happens and all but I'm really small. What if he's too big for me?"

"No!"

Jinn rose up, eyes wide, knowing – for once without her powers – what was about to happen. Ruby, having inferred a question on the size of Jaune's manhood, caused a single, crystal clear image to explode to life in Jinn's head.

"Eek!" Her face burst into colour. Her hand came up to cover her eyes, for all the use that would be. She took a step back. Her ankle struck the table.

Jinn knew the table was there. She knew it was a trip hazard. She knew, thanks to her power, that she had tripped into it, and though she couldn't read the future, she knew that the floor was at the end of a short drop, and that there was little to no chance of her catching herself on anything.

Sometimes, knowledge was useless.

Her arms flailed despite knowing better. She yelped and shrieked as she fell, tossing her tea up into the air. Dark blue hair swayed as she tipped back, falling over the coffee table to thump into the ground.

Jinn's head struck the floor, and, to her relief, she knew no more.

"M-Miss Jinn…?"

/-/

Being the Spirit of Knowledge sucked sometimes. Jinn came back to consciousness slowly, but her mind instantly knew everything it needed to. She knew that she'd been so embarrassed and shocked by the knowledge Ruby had unwittingly brought to the fore that she'd tripped and fallen. She knew that Ruby, the poor girl, had been so horrified and shocked by it that she'd carried Jinn herself to the infirmary. No small feat considering the discrepancy in their body sizes.

Jinn knew that she was alive and healthy, because she didn't really have a skull, brain or all those other bits to be damaged. Her body was a construct of divine energy more than corporeal mass, and that made things confusing.

She knew she would be healthy at all times.

She knew that her wrists were strapped down to a medical bed.

She knew that the person stood beside said bed knew she had woken up, and Jinn knew, in all its horrifying certainty, that said person was panting lightly, wagging her tail and touching several medical tools.

Jinn also knew that the person was very, very aroused.

Horrifyingly – if it could get so – she knew that this person had been making love to Peter Port only six hours prior. Jinn knew that even lacking a stomach, she felt sick. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

"So," Tsune said, face pink and eyes dilated. "You're a Spirit. And you know everything. Hah." Hot steam from the faunus' mouth washed over her face. "That means you know what I want, doesn't it? And you can't actually feel pain."

Jinn swallowed, but nodded, not without some nervousness. "You realise my body isn't real. Even if you cut me in half, nothing would happen. I wouldn't even feel the pain."

"Yep! That's what makes this so interesting. I'm going to have fun with you."

"Yeah." Jinn grimaced. "I know…"

She also knew that Jaune was asleep, Glynda was working, Neo was trying to stealthily peek down Jaune's pants and no one in the entire school knew where she was or that she desperately needed a rescue. Ruby was convinced she'd done the right thing in bringing her here.

While nothing Tsune could do would hurt, she knew her head was going to be filled with the knowledge of what Tsune wished to do, and that such images would be creepy, fetishist and altogether horrifying to behold. She didn't need her power to guess she was going to be in for one hell of a night, or to know that there was bugger all she could do to escape.

Sometimes, a lot of times, knowing everything sucked.

Next Chapter: 8th August

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur