Emily's POV
Almost two months had passed since Oscar disappeared from her. Since his parent's death when he was eight it wasnt unusual for him to not be seen for a day or two. He had just never been gone this long before.
Emily Pine was a stout woman with a dark tan from long hours under the sun. Her long brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she had sharp brown eyes. It wasnt hard for others to believe that she was Oscar's biological aunt. They looked a lot alike.
It had fooled the local townspeople for years. Cynthia, his mother had fallen in love with a huntsman who abandoned her not six months into the relationship. He had said it was for her protection but Emilly never believed that. He was just another wanderer who had no interest in settling down. It was only a few weeks later that she found out she was pregnant.
Alex the soft-hearted man that he was married her. He gave her a good life that she wouldn't have had if the townspeople found out that Oscar was some huntsman's bastard. They would have ostracized him if they knew. Most of the town looked down upon the huntsman. Those that came through never stayed so they were left to defend themselves.
If they had a huntsman full time maybe Alex and Cynthia would still be alive. Maybe Oscar wouldn't have been ashamed of his scars. She worried about the day that he found out the truth. That he would leave her alone to find the father that left.
The possibility had terrified her from the day that her brother and sister in law died. Now she was sure that was what had happened. Oscar had somehow found out that he was adopted and runoff. No note. No goodbye. It stung but by this point, she had accepted that her nephew was not coming back.
Sighing she stood up and headed towards the sink her coffee cup in hand. It was time to go tend to the animals and then the rest of the farm. Without Oscar being here to help it was taking twice as long as it used to. She could only be grateful that she was still in good enough health to do it alone. Not everyone was so lucky. As she was washing the cup a frantic pounding sounded at her door. For a moment she froze it was just like the pounding that sounded when she was told that her brother had been killed in a Grim attack.
Emilly took a deep breath to steady herself before heading to the door. It was probably old Cillian from the next farm over. Her cows probably got out again and were terrorizing his. Not that they'd ever really do that but the old man was senile and she played along.
Pulling open the door she found Cobalt standing there out of breath. His light blue eyes meeting her brown ones. She was shocked by the seriousness in his eyes. In all the time she knew him he was never serious.
Before she could ask what he was doing here so late he declared, "They found Oscar. You need to come to the clinic immediately."
Her hand shot up to her mouth as she questioned, "Are you... are you sure it's him? Is he okay? Why didnt you bring him with you?"
Cobalt looked away as he replied, "It's not looking good, Mrs. Pine. A huntsman found him and brought him into the clinic. He looks so different that I didnt recognize him."
They must have done a blood test then using the huntsman's connections. It would have taken a lot longer if they only used Nero's. They were a low priority town all the way out here.
Wait he said Oscar wasn't looking good? Was he attacked? How badly was he injured? Cobalt wouldn't meet her eyes and that was when she realized his light blue eyes had been tinged with red. As if he had cried while running here. Oh no...
Cobalt was three years older than Oscar. At fifteen he was one of the best veterinary assistants in the area. He volunteered at the veterinarian two towns over learning everything he could. While he was at home he helped ensure everyone's livestock were healthy.
He was Oscar's only friend after his parents died. No one wanted to be around the poor orphan boy after he told them that he didnt want to show his scars. Only Cobalt understood and stuck by her nephew. Anyone who called him a coward within earshot was beaten to a pulp.
Like Emilly, Cobalt had been devastated at his friend's sudden disappearance. He told her that Oscar wanted to go to Heaven when he was old enough. That it was his dream to become a huntsman. He just didnt expect Oscar to leave so soon. Most of the Academies wouldn't accept students under 15. Sanctum was the closest beginner academy and their minimum was 14 with a huntsman recommendation. Or fifteen without.
Oscar was two years from being old enough to enter with a recommendation. Maybe he had gone off to seek an apprenticeship and had gotten hurt. Was whoever brought him to the clinic the one he sought an apprenticeship from? There was only one way to get her answers. She grabbed her coat from where it hung up and followed Cobalt.
It was a couple of hours past sunrise when they reached the town. Cobalt didnt knock on Nero's house instead opening the door. The house hadn't changed since the last time she was in identifying her brother and sister in law's body.
Nero and an unfamiliar green-haired man with tired but warm amber eyes sat at the kitchen table. When they saw her both men stood.
Nero was the first to speak his eyes meeting hers, "Emilly thank you for coming so fast. I'm sure that Cobalt has told you that Oscar was found. This is Doctor Bartholomew Oobleck a huntsman with Beacon Academy. He was the one who found Oscar, provided first aid, and brought him here."
Oobleck held out his hand to her and she greeted her voice shaking slightly, "Good morning, Doctor Oobleck. I am Emilly Pine, Oscar's aunt. What happened? Why did Cobalt say that Oscar wasnt doing well?"
Nero gave the teenager a withering glare as he answered, "We dont know how exactly it happened or who he was with. What we think happened was that Oscar hitched a ride to Vale and when he was found out they shot him. Oscar's aura saved his life both with the gunshot and with the fall from the airship. If he had not been found by Oobleck here he would have died from exposure. Once he was here I treated the gunshot wound and used my semblance."
There he paused and she understood why. No one in town knew what his semblance was or even his last name. It was a big mystery and there was a decent bet pool going on what it might be. She never got into the pool knowing what it was like to keep a secret. She respected his privacy just as he respected hers.
He continued with a sigh, "My semblance is called Aura Read. It allows me to read the aura of anyone I come into physical contact with. Oscar's aura should have been weak but healing. Slight tears and breaks are normal and will heal on their own after some time has passed."
Aura Read she had read about that in the history books at school. It was thought that the family line that produced the semblance had died out in the Great War. Who would have thought that one would be in their tiny town?
Now she understood the reasons for his secrecy. If word got out their town would be overrun with military figures from all over the kingdoms. Each would want to use the semblance for their own personal gain.
Wait there was something he wasnt saying. What was wrong with Oscar? What did his semblance tell him?
"You are far too smart for your own good," sighed the older doctor, "There is no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to tell you as it is. As soon as I touched Oscar I was forced to let go. His aura was torn to shred to the point he only has about half of his soul. No living being can remain alive with only half a soul. Right now Oscar is fighting for his very existence. Without an aura transfusion from a close familia match, he will die before sunset tonight."
Once again her hand shot up to cover her mouth as tears burned behind her eyes. She had already lost her brother and sister in law. Now she was going to lose Oscar forever. All because someone or something had torn his soul in half.
If he had been born to her brother she might have been a close enough match to help Oscar. The only problem was that she didnt have her aura unlocked. In this area, there wasnt a need for it unless you were going to a huntsman academy. But Oscar wasn't her brother's he was adopted. Even if she had an aura to transfer it wouldn't help. She was going to lose her only family.
Oobleck continued breaking through her dark thoughts, "In order to find out his identity we took some blood from Mr. Pine and sent it through the databases using my connections. It is a good thing we did. Not only were we able to send for you but I was able to contact his father."
"His father? My brother has been dead for several years now."
The huntsman shook his head as he explained, "His biological father, my boss, the Headmaster of Beacon Ozpin."
She felt all the blood drain from her face. There were a lot of things she had been expecting with Oscar. To find out his father was one of the most influential men in the world was not one of them.
Oobleck continued, "While young Cobalt went to get you I called him. He is on his way now and should be here within a few hours. Ozpin never knew that Cynthia was pregnant. If he had he would not have abandoned her to raise Oscar on her own. He is not that kind of man I promise you. Ozpin will do everything he can to ensure Oscar not only survives but thrives."
All she could worry about was Oscar not making it. Or his father taking him away.
Instead of voicing her concerns, she asked, "Can I see him?"
"Of course follow me," came Nero's adamant tone.
She was taken into the room with Oscar. Her nephew was laid out on a table his face paler than normal. His torso was bandaged by expert hands as expected of Nero. Next to his bedside was a chair that she immediately took.
She grasped his hand for less than a second before having to let go. It was shockingly cold as if there was no life in him. Was this what Nero meant? To only have half a soul meant to have one foot on the other side. Would Ozpin make it in time? She could only hope.
Ozpin's POV
The wait was nerve-wracking. It had been a long time since he was this nervous and never for this reason. He had a son. One who was little more than a child, almost a teenager. Guilt ate at him for not knowing of the child's existence beforehand. He had missed so much due to his lack of knowledge. Now there was the possibility that he may never know his child.
Using his connections he was able to get a direct flight to the town. At his urging, they were going at speeds not recommended. Most likely the pilot thought there was an emergency with one of his students. After all, it was unusual for Ozpin to leave his school much less Anima.
They were only about half an hour from the town now. Ozpin had to admit that it was secluded he barely remembered visiting as a younger man. Something about a Grim infestation he thought but wasnt completely sure. It felt like a lifetime ago.
A message had been sent to Qrow who was in Mistral near Haven. If they needed to meet he would be around for a time. The message had been seen but there wasnt a reply. He didnt expect one, Qrow was hunting for an elusive set of criminals currently.
He was torn from his thoughts as he felt the airship begin its descent. Standing he moved so that he was by the open hatch. The town moved ever closer as they descended. People young and old watched as the ship landed. A mix of mistrust and curiosity in each gaze.
Ozpin said as he stepped off his cane tapping on the ground next to him, "Excuse the sudden landing in the middle of your town. I was told there was an emergency that needed my presence. I am Professor Ozpin of Beacon Academy."
A young man maybe fifteen ran up to him and said, "He's at the doctor's house. Follow me I'll take you to him."
Ozpin hummed and followed the energetic young man. There wasn't any sign of a weapon so he guessed the teenager was a farmhand or an apprentice of some sort. Not a huntsman in training though he was the right age to start.
The house wasnt far from where they landed but he wouldn't have been able to pick it out on his own. The boy he followed didnt knock or hesitate to push open the door. Ozpin only briefly hesitated before he followed.
Entering the house he took note of the exits and how many people there were. Barty was sipping out of his trademark thermos. Deep bags were under his eyes from lack of sleep.
Barty let out a sigh of relief, "Ozpin, thank the Gods."
One other was in the room, a man who looked even more exhausted than Barty. He tried to hide it but Ozpin could see the way his hands shook. While he wasnt completely sure he had the feeling it was from semblance overuse. Or it was a side effect of his semblance.
The man said, "I am Nero the doctor of this town. You have made it just in time. The boy is holding onto his life but only barely."
Ozpin swallowed as he said, "Show me."
He was taken into the back room where a woman with brown hair and brown eyes sat at a child's bedside. Her eyes were red and puffy around the edges from crying. She held the child's hand in her own, her grip tightening when she saw him. Not saying anything she turned her gaze to the boy.
The boy, Oscar if he remembered correctly was small for his age. If Ozpin had to guess he looked closer to ten than twelve. He had dark brown hair and tanned skin. Eye color would have to wait until he woke up.
A frown crossed his face at the sight of bandages. What kind of wound did he have?
Nero said as if hearing his thoughts, "He was found with a gunshot wound. While serious it wasnt life-threatening. Whoever shot him meant to hurt but not kill the kid. I dont think the one who shot him and the one who damaged his soul are the same person. It wouldn't make sense."
Ozpin made a sound of agreement before moving to stand beside the child's bedside. Now that he was closer he could feel the jumbled mess that was the child's soul and aura. Thousands of lifetimes sensing the aura of those around him allowed him to sense what was going on without physical contact. While some needed a semblance he could sense it without one.
Activating his own aura he put his hand on the child's chest. Only to retract it immediately as the child's aura and soul screamed out. Images that he couldn't see clearly flashed before his eyes. Faces blurred to the point of being unrecognizable. Words garbled so that he couldn't understand them. The intent was clear, however. Kill or be killed.
Someone had tried very hard to kill this child. He had to focus or he would be unable to help his son. It hit him like a ton of bricks a second later. Someone had tried to kill his son. Damn this was complicated and he didnt like it.
Calming his racing heart he tried again this time focusing on pushing his aura against the child's. To meld them together and heal the damage that had been done.