Chapter Fourteen: Ever the Optimist

Ozpin and Qrow sat in the living room, Ozpin cradling a mug of hot cocoa and deep in thought.

"Things aren't looking good, Oz." Qrow looked over at him, holding his mug loosely in one hand.

Ozpin chuckled. "Ever the optimist." He took a sip of his drink. "While I would not say our current predicament is ideal, I think we can both agree that the situation could be much worse. Humanity is a resilient force."

"Oz." Qrow's voice was solemn. "Pro huntsmen like that don't just bite it all at once. Salem's powerful, and it seems like her reach is growing by the day." He narrowed his eyes. "What does that say about humanity?"

"That there are indeed a misguided few who have filled their hearts with malice." Ozpin nodded slightly. "It doesn't take a great number of people to cause harm, but I still believe there are far more people in this world willing to prevent it."

Footsteps sounded on the creaky wooden floorboards, and Ruby appeared behind Qrow. "Excuse me?" She said.

"Ah, Miss Rose." Ozpin smiled. "Join us. We were just about to gather everyone to discuss our next steps."

"Oh, uh, great." She smiled nervously.

"Something on your mind, kiddo?" Qrow inquired, head tilted slightly.

"If it's okay to ask..." She looked down, fiddling with her sleeve.

"Of course." Qrow's voice took on a warm tone.

"Well, we've been talking about the Relic at Haven, and the Spring Maiden, but..." She looked up. "What about the Fall Maiden?"

"Cinder." Ozpin said gravely.

"Does that mean Salem has the Beacon Relic?" Worry crept into Ruby's voice.

Ozpin and Qrow glanced at each other.

"Very astute, Miss Rose," Ozpin said, looking at her with something akin to pride, "I was wondering who would be the first to ask. No, thankfully she does not. It's true that the Relic at Haven is very much at risk, and for now, that should remain our primary focus." Ozpin smirked. "Let's just say I made finding the Relic at Beacon a bit more challenging than at the other schools."

"Oh, right." Ruby sighed with relief. "That's good to hear."

"It is," agreed Ozpin, "but let's not forget the challenges that still lie before us."

Ruby nodded.

"Now, is there anything else we can help you with?"

"Well, I did have one more question..." Ruby raised a questioning hand.

"No, my cane is not a Relic." Ozpin smiled.

"I have no more questions." Ruby's hand dropped back to her side.

The three laughed.

"Yes, while this cane is indeed very precious to me, it is also just that - precious to me." Ozpin laid a protective hand over the cane's handle. "While I admit is still has a few more tricks up its sleeve, I can firmly say that being a Relic isn't one of them. Now why don't you run and get the other students?"

A loud buzzing noise sounded from Qrow's pocket, and he fished out his scroll with an irritated look on his face. "Yeah?" A pause. "Okay..." He sighed quietly. "Yeah, we'll be there." Turning the scroll off and tossing it onto the table, he rolled his eyes.

"Who was it?" Asked Ruby.

"It was Leo." Qrow unscrewed the lid of his flask. "Says he had a breakthrough with the council. Thinks he might be able to get together a small raiding party for the bandits. He wants us to meet up at the school tomorrow night to walk us through it."

"Really?" Ruby gasped. "That's great! I'll go get the others." She ran off excitedly. Qrow look a long drink from his flask.

"Hmm..." Ozpin's eyes narrowed. "That sounds drastically different from your original conversation, does it not?"

"It does." Qrow stared straight ahead, brow furrowed.

"Interesting..." Ozpin closed his eyes, deep in thought.

"Just so you know," Oscar said to Ozpin, "I don't have a good feeling about this."

"Things aren't looking good, Oz." Qrow turned to him with a solemn expression.

"I know..."