In the void of space, with its infinite motes of stars and planets, there was one world in particular, unique with its shattered moon, where a race of beings called humans came into being.

They weren't of great strength compared to the beasts around them, but humans had a quick wit and a resourceful nature, and life back then didn't seem opposed to their continued existence.

Then came that fateful day when the wilderness beyond humanity's borders birthed a new kind of horror – monsters born of shadowy flesh and clad in bone armor – and far beyond any predator that humans had previously encountered. No one knew how these red eyed shades came to be, and they were called by many names in different places of the world, but most called them the Grimm, named after their merciless desire to kill every human on sight.

At first, the Grimm were few and weak enough to be held off, but each passing year seemed to double their ferocity, if not their numbers, and the humans were slowly being overrun by the unrelenting horde; extinction seemed imminent.

But somehow humanity survived their last stand, thanks to a small few among them who awakened a power strong enough to defend against the darkness. Said to be the physical manifestation of a person's unique soul, their newfound strength was named Semblance, and those born with the gift, Hunters – the Hunters of Grimm.

Swearing oaths to defend and keep hope alive, many Hunters sacrificed themselves to keep the Grimm out of the last remaining human settlements, while others searched desperately for a way to win the war. Under such massive odds, it was only after half a millennium had passed before their efforts finally bore fruit.

Mined from the earth and refined in the forge, a newfound energy source called Dust provided the key to arm the masses with new weapons and technologies, and it was the breakthrough the humans needed to turn the tide. With the combined might of Semblance and Dust, the human counterattack was ultimately too much for the Grimm to withstand.

Unable to adapt to both the quality and quantity of firepower humanity mustered against them, the Grimm were forced to retreat deep into the wilderness, and the five remaining kingdoms of the world – Vale, Mistral, Vacuo, Atlas, and Menagerie – were now free to seize the newly available land, and their survival ushered in unprecedented industrial progress.

More than 150 years had passed since what would be called the Dust Revolution. Though the Grimm proved too difficult to eradicate completely from where they hid – most notably the uninhabited northwestern continent, infested with Grimm and impenetrable to this day – their threat to the general populace had never appeared more distant, with Grimm attacks effectively limited only at each kingdom's borders and trade routes, and their assaults kept at bay by armies and Hunters; a state of affairs unthinkable in the past.

It was Year 2040 of the Remnant calendar. The five kingdoms have been isolated from each other for so long for much of the world's history due to the Grimm, and only recently were communications reliably held between them. But each of them knew they faced a new global reality should things continue on as they were now, and thus the kingdoms sought ways on how to make best of the upcoming age…

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A young girl walked towards the northern forests of Vale, to what people called Forever Fall due to its perpetually red foliage, while her red cloak fluttered along a cool breeze, kept secure by two silver cross pins. Above her was a clear night sky, with the constellations in full view, and the surrounding grasslands were bathed in the full moon's light.

She had her hood down as she moved, preferring to feel the wind on her face. Her neck length black hair had natural red highlights at the ends, and she made sure her black dress mirrored this – red trimming on her short skirt, red lacing at the ends of her long sleeves, and red shoelaces on her black boots – with black stockings and a black belt with a silver rose buckle completing her look. She liked her reds and blacks and made no apologies for it. A cute country girl at first glance, and one would wonder what someone like her was doing all alone in a place like this. While not exactly helpless, she had no Hunter's license despite her abilities, and she knew that she would be apprehended the moment border patrol saw her outside the kingdom's walls.

Her silver eyes narrowed at the sound of a guttural howl piercing the silence, followed by another. She had heard eight howls in total in the last few minutes. This far out from the kingdom, there was no question that beowolves were roaming around, and were most likely aware of her presence.

It had been a month since that horrible night, and she couldn't bear those sleepless nights anymore, just brooding in her room doing nothing else, constantly plaguing her mind with thoughts of what could have been had she done things differently. But as much as she wanted to escape into those fantasies, reality had its way of reasserting itself. It brought a painful reminder to her that words had weight. Something once said could no longer be unsaid, and there were consequences that couldn't be undone.

Now revenge was all on her mind. Despite being told to just stay where she lived, she still went out here to kill Grimm, driven by a compulsion she no longer wanted to resist.

The girl kept a steady pace, and it wouldn't be long before she reached Forever Fall. Already she could see the red bushes littering the forest edge, even from this distance. But a few steps later she heard snarls and growls, and her right hand hovered near the red rectangular weapon on the back of her waist. She stopped walking.

Come out already.

She didn't have to wait long. Pairs of red dots flashed from the darkness ahead, hidden in the trees, and she prepared for combat upon seeing five beowolves slowly make their way out of the forest. Mockeries of real wolves, with their bipedal gaits and bony fangs, the beowolves raised their hackles as they assessed her with their glowing eyes, and looked ready to indulge themselves at what they thought was an easy kill. But her face showed no emotion to them, even as memories of that fateful moment flashed through her mind. These were just beowolves – not at all like the dread she had encountered that night – but there had been beowolves back then too, and that was all that mattered.

With a show of dominance, the beowolf in the middle growled, and all five Grimm charged towards her in a pronged attack.

She countered by unsheathing her weapon, and from its compact form it bloomed into a scythe of incredible size, with a blade thicker than her leg and a snath a third taller than she was – a dustmetal weapon of her own design, named Crescent Rose. Wielding it with a surprising grace, a plan formed in her mind upon noticing the Grimm fully commit to their attack. A few moments were all it took.

She reached for her Semblance, and disappeared, scattering rose petals in her wake.

The beowolves abruptly stopped in their tracks, confused as to what their target had just done, and for a moment the girl was nowhere to be found despite their efforts. But then the middle beowolf felt a gust of fragrant air, then the touch of cold metal grazing its neck. The girl instantly went for the cut.

One down, and she was now in position. Putting her blade down to serve as an anchor, her scythe's snath, tang, and heel together formed a bolt action sniper rifle, and she had the Grimm right in her sights just as they began realizing what had happened. She pulled the trigger, and a beowolf fell with a gaping hole on its back.

Bolting in a new round, the remaining three beowolves scrambled furiously to get to her. It was clear that her Semblance had diverted them long enough for her to pick them off, just as she intended. She fired a new bullet, and another beowolf had its throat blown off.

Two were left, rapidly approaching her, and the girl killed her fourth with a shot to the chest. But she didn't reload this time, seeing that the last beowolf had closed the distance between them. Growling and breathing heavily from all the energy it spent, the beowolf's red eyes glared at her with the sureness of what would happen next. But she simply returned its gaze.

The beowolf went for a powerful swipe. But its claws met only air where her flesh should have been, and instead the Grimm felt soft red leaves run through its body, followed by the wafting smell of roses. Instinctively it turned, but it was too late. The girl had already launched her wide sweeping slice from behind, and the Grimm was quickly cleaved in two at the waist.

And with that, all five beowolves were dead, and the girl sheathed Crescent Rose with a flourish, her giant scythe now back to its compact form stored behind her waist. The rose petals drifting around her slowly faded upon releasing her Semblance. The fight went about as well as the girl could have planned it. But in contrast to her expectations, she felt nothing, no rush of accomplishment, and certainly no absolution.

She stood there, waiting at first, moments turning into minutes. Yet not one bit of comfort came to her, and she found herself struggling to understand. At least she was out of her room for once, and she exterminated some wretched beowolves along the way, just as those monsters deserved. Shouldn't that be a victory in itself? Shouldn't that amount to something? But everything still felt hollow, and she had nothing to show for her efforts.

This was what I wanted, right?

Vaguely aware that she was now at the entrance to Forever Fall, cutting the distance short due to having used her Semblance, the girl found herself chuckling bitterly. Alone in the wilderness with dead Grimm all around her, was she turning into a bigger mess than she already was?

What the hell am I even doing here?

She fell silent at the thought, and a moment of clarity hit her that dispelled her compulsions. Feeling the nip of the night air, she realized she had made a terrible mistake.

Suddenly her arms were gripped tight by a powerful force, preventing her from wielding Crescent Rose to reach for her Semblance. Her eyes widened in shock at the sight of black coils erupting from the ground. Her legs were soon bound as well, and she winced as she was forcefully dragged down, her face hitting the dirt.

The ground shook. Straining to look up, she saw the bushes in front of her give way to a dark writhing mass, with grotesque sickles for arms and armored in bony white plates. As it rose, she realized she was seeing the left side of a monstrous skeletal creature, almost as tall as the trees around it, and was the source of the tendrils that kept her captive. She knew what this type of Grimm was. It then turned its head to her, revealing four pairs of red eyes.

It was a nihilith, a horror far stronger than any beowolf, and in a higher class of Grimm that was beyond any single Hunter to deal with on their own. But what was it doing here? Nihiliths should be lurking much deeper in the forest, as was common knowledge. They weren't supposed to be hiding in the ground, or roam the forest edge so close to the grasslands, so close to Vale. But as if sensing her disbelief, the nihilith slithered closer and unhinged its mouth, revealing an undeniable black hole of nothingness.

Panic set in, the terrible feeling of fear washing over her, and she struggled desperately to free herself. But her binds simply wouldn't break. Crescent Rose was just behind her back, her Semblance waiting to be embraced, but with her lying prone and her limbs bound she had no way of reaching her weapon, much less defend herself with her fists. She was utterly helpless, and already memories of that awful night came up again, along with that horrible dread she faced.

A cold realization hit her. She was a fool, that was clear to her now, and she was about to die. She never should have come here. Tears ran down her cheeks, knowing that these were her last moments. There was nothing she could do anymore. With despair taking away the last of her strength, she closed her eyes, resigning herself to her fate. Her thoughts all went to one person. The one she fell in love with, the one she held in her arms, the one she failed miserably, and the one she missed the most.

I'm sorry…

The nihilith roared.

Move, Ruby!

The girl immediately recognized the voice that called out her name – it was him, there was no mistaking it – and she opened her eyes to find herself on her feet, at a safe distance away from the Grimm. Crescent Rose was unsheathed in her hands and her rose petals were scattered everywhere by the wind. Surprise was etched on Ruby's face; she didn't even remember reaching for her Semblance. How did she even get away? She had no clue, but what she did know was that he was there for her in her hour of need, and that she couldn't have done this on her own otherwise. Feeling a familiar pang in her heart, she whispered her gratitude.

She then noticed that a large boulder, blazing purple, fell down the sky and crashed on top of the nihilith's head, and bright green fetters slowly trapped its arms and coils. These were Semblances, and the Grimm hissed wildly as it fought to free itself.

There were other people here; she was being rescued. Then something green flashed in the air, from the corner of her eye. It had to be one of them, and sure enough, a man with silver hair landed to the ground just a few feet away from her right side, armed with an elegant swordstick and wearing thin eyeglasses. "Are you alright, young girl?"

"…I'm ok," Ruby said. "Thanks for your help."

"Good job with your escape back there," the man said. "Those restraints of mine aren't that fast, and they won't last long on this one. Keep yourself safe for the meantime. My colleague is the one channeling that rock, and she'll keep the pressure on its head while I go in. I'll be preparing an attack myself–"

"Don't worry, I'll keep you covered," Ruby replied, having already intuited what the man planned; it was a nice coincidence that his idea just so happened to align with hers. She then put Crescent Rose into sniper mode and went into position, her eye on her scope.

For a moment, the man was surprised. Then he smiled. "Thank you. Very much appreciated." Without hesitation, the man burst forward, vanishing in a green blur. His speed was easily comparable to her Semblance, and he reappeared right in front of the nihilith to stab his sword into the ground.

The ground seemed to break as the man kneeled to channel, and green light flashed upwards. Flows of the man's green Semblance burst forth from his sword into a geyser of power. The boulder on the nihilith's head flared into a bright purple blaze soon after, and the green and purple flows coalesced, each pushing towards the other to crush the Grimm's head. Ruby resisted the urge to gaze in awe, remaining primed and ready for what would come next.

The nihilith roared in pain at the combined Semblances compressing its head, its body twitching violently, and in desperation found the strength to gradually free itself from its tethers. But Ruby would have none of that; the moment she was waiting for had arrived. She fired continuous precise shots at every tendril that broke free, emptying her magazines and reloading as fast as she could to keep the man protected. The nihilith's skeletal arms were more difficult to keep at bay, but her persistent attacks at its elbows and wrists soon took their toll, and finally its arms simply broke off at the joints.

Now completely disarmed, the nihilith's resistance quickly crumbled, and Ruby witnessed the boulder disintegrate as the purple energy finally fused with the man's green burst. Suddenly there was a burst of light that obscured her vision, and afterwards their green and purple Semblances were nowhere to be found – only the nihilith lying on to the ground headless, silent at last.

Ruby took a deep breath. With the fight over she felt the urge to once again show her gratitude, and so she used her Semblance to move towards the man, arriving to see him standing to put his sword into its scabbard, forming a cane. He turned to meet her with curious eyes despite his tired face, and he was much taller than she thought he was. She barely even reached his shoulders.

"Thank you again for rescuing me," Ruby said. "I wouldn't be here without your help."

The man stood there for a while as he observed her, though she supposed he was just trying to catch his breath. "It was the least we could do," he finally replied. His silver hair had a natural messiness to it, and he was dressed in an unzipped black suit over green buttoned vest and shirt, matched with a green cowl, brown shoes and dark pants. "But to be fair it would have taken us much longer to defeat this nihilith without your cover fire. You weren't bad at all, actually. Especially for a civilian that's not supposed to be here."

His words caught her off guard, and so Ruby averted her eyes, not knowing what to say; in retrospect this man must have already known from the start. Why wouldn't he, given that he saw her here in Forever Fall without any backup, taking on higher level Grimm by herself? He now had a knowing look too, with a smile to match – the kind of look that knew she wouldn't just run away out of sheer indebtedness and shame, and he would be right. Ruby kept quiet as she sheathed Crescent Rose, and released her Semblance.

There was a rustling sound coming from the bushes, and Ruby turned to see a blonde woman approach, visibly tired and with a furrowed brow; she must be the colleague the man was referring to. "And what exactly are you doing out here, young girl?" she snapped as she caught her breath. "You would be dead if we weren't here!"

"Took you long enough to arrive." The man showed a smile. "Now, now. No need to be so harsh. Everything turned out well for everyone."

But the woman didn't let up as she turned to him. "Don't tell me you're going to let her off? You've always been too merciful, but even you can't let this foolish girl get away with this. Not only that, you even dared to trust her to guard your back during the fight? This girl could have panicked out of fear and left you behind!"

"Yeah, she could have." The man shrugged. "But let's just say I got a good read on our girl here, and it's not like you haven't done the same thing before. Remember that time when we were students, when you and I–"

"Really? You're bringing that up now?" The woman's eyes narrowed. "That was a long time ago. Must you always play that card?"

"Only when I have to. Besides, you also bring up things to me, and I don't call you out on those. Just being fair here, nothing more or less."

"Sure you are." She sighed, and had a look of deep thought in her, as if deciding whether to counter what the man just said. But ultimately no rebuttal came, and the woman instead crossed her arms. "Hmph. Do what you want."

Ruby bit her lip, thinking of the right moment to enter their conversation. She already knew she was a fool, completely deserving punishment for what she had put herself into, but maybe she could make this easier for the two of them, who seemed to going back and forth on how to best deal with her. She then found her opening. Ruby took a few steps forward, and made a slight bow towards the blonde woman. "Thank you for saving me. I'm really sorry for the trouble I caused."

That could have been worded better. But her words were sincere at least, and Ruby bit her lip again as she looked at the woman. She wore a backsword on her hip, and had pale blonde hair tied back in a bun that had a curl hanging down the right side of her face. The attire she wore was standard enough, composed of a black pencil skirt, dark brown stockings, black boots, and a white long sleeve top. But her purple cape was a bold statement, and the eyeglasses she wore did little to hide her piercing green eyes. Fittingly for those eyes, a cold stare was all she received from her. Not the best of responses, but Ruby supposed that it would have to do.

"I suppose we can ease the mood here by introducing ourselves," the man said as he showed Ruby his Hunter license. "My name's Ozpin Levert, headmaster of Beacon Academy, and she is Glynda Goodwitch, one of the combat instructors at the school. We're currently on a mission to patrol parts of Forever Fall for suspected Class Two Grimm activity, and we were just about to head back when we saw you finishing off those beowolves in the distance. We didn't think you would be in trouble the way you did at first. You easily passed for a scout in one of Signal Institute's surveillance teams."

It was an effort for Ruby to hide her surprise upon hearing they were from Beacon. Founded twenty years ago by those who had a different take of how Hunters should be trained, Beacon Academy was among the top boarding schools, and one of the two private military companies in Vale. Ruby recalled how determined she was back then to be accepted in the alma mater of her parents. "What gave me away?" she asked, just for the sake of it.

"It was obvious you acted alone when no one backed you up against that nihilith," Ozpin answered, then leaned closer to Ruby, his eyes meeting hers. "But you could have died there, young girl, and I would have to agree with Glynda that you did a very foolish thing in going here alone. Not to mention that it's illegal. Are you trying to get revenge on the Grimm? Because I've seen this so many times from other people before. It never gets any better for them."

Ruby couldn't help but look away, and saw that the beowolf corpses were starting to disintegrate. All Grimm corpses did that after a time, for unknown reasons, and Ruby had long been at the point where she wished her despair would vanish likewise. But she knew better than that, of course; she wanted more than just to forget. Deep in her heart, what she really wanted was the impossible. Words have weight, and some things just can't be undone.

Ruby turned to meet Ozpin's eyes again, and shook her head. "It's more than just revenge," she said, clenching her fists. "Even after what happened at Patch, it's more than just that."

"Patch?" Glynda suddenly asked, her cold eyes softening immediately upon hearing it, and Ozpin raised his eyebrows. Something seemed to dawn on the two of them, and Glynda's harsh exterior was surprisingly nowhere to be found, replaced by an almost motherly look. "…what's your name, young girl?"

"My name's Ruby. Ruby Rose."

Ozpin's face turned gravely solemn – a far cry from his smiling one earlier – while Glynda's eyes widened in shock, and moments passed with the two rendered quiet at the mere mention of her name. Even Ruby was left confused, caught off guard by their silence.

"…I can't believe it. Who would have thought?" Glynda had a softer, muted tone in her voice this time, so unlike the one she had when she first appeared. "Ruby, I–"

"It's alright, Glynda," Ozpin said, cutting her off, and the woman didn't seem to mind. With a slight nod to his partner, Ozpin gave Ruby a sincere look. "Thank you Ruby, for being honest to us."

Ruby wasn't sure what to say. How did it get to this point where she's the one being thanked here? Was it because they pitied her for what happened at Patch? It had to be pity – what else could it possibly be? But they sounded familiar with her name, and she had this feeling there was more to this than just sympathy. "Honest about what?" Ruby asked, wanting to understand.

"Don't worry, I'll explain later. What matters is that you're alive, and that I promised that I'll help as much as I can, so let me start by giving you a ride home." So saying, Ozpin took out his phone to call. "Peter, it's me. Send the armored car here quickly, we're right at the woodland edge. We killed a nihilith hiding in the ground just when we were about to go back." The man fell silent for a time after he said that. "Also, please clean up the mess in there. Ruby Rose is coming along with us."

Ruby crossed her arms as a cold wind blew past the three of them. Confusion quickly gave way to calm; Ozpin's sincerity seemed genuine, and Glynda's small smile to her was much appreciated, coming from a woman like her. Trusting them was the least she could do to repay their kindness, and perhaps she'll have a better idea why these two reacted the way they did upon hearing her name. This beats having to work my way back to the kingdom, for one thing. With a quick glance at the shattered moon, she returned Glynda's smile, and gave Ozpin a small nod.

"Yes, Peter. The very same one."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Alright, everything seems to check out. Move along."

Ruby was startled awake by the sound.

"Thank you, good sir!"

It was Peter who said that, and Ruby slowly realized that they had just passed the last security checkpoint. She must have dozed off the moment she relaxed in her seat; it seemed those sleepless nights were starting to take their toll on her. But she made it a point to give the directions to her condominium first before leaving Forever Fall, and she remembered Ozpin being very surprised at the address she gave him. From Vale's border they would go to the northern residential districts, and it would take at least two hours for them to arrive.

Glynda was at the front passenger seat, while she and Ozpin were at the back, with him at her right side. A stocky old man named Peter Port was at the driver's seat, and he had introduced himself to her earlier before they left the forest. He was a jolly sort of person with graying hair and moustache, sporting a burgundy suit with pants tucked in cavalry boots, and armed with a dustmetal blunderbuss axe named Blowback, that somehow had its retractable blades at the stock rather than at the barrel. He regaled her earlier with stories of how he emerged victorious against many types of Grimm, befitting his job as a specialist of them, though funnily enough she remembered Glynda rolling her eyes.

Ruby felt her eyelids grow heavy. She could have only slept for a few minutes given the distance between the forest and the border, and her body craved for more. Resisting the urge to sleep again, she looked at Ozpin, and found him staring right back at her, as if he had been waiting for her to wake up.

"You fell fast asleep," Ozpin said, his hands on his swordstick. "You're much more tired than you look, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. For you go through all this trouble just to escape the border… You really pushed your Semblance to its limits, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did." Ruby yawned as she struggled to stay awake. That was one way of putting it. Her Semblance was the most basic of Hunter powers – a simple speed boost – but that didn't stop her from getting out of Vale. Then again, she was lucky to avoid the guards and the security, wasn't she? She had done some preparation, of course, and perhaps her speed was just a bit faster than she thought. Or perhaps she was just good in picking her spots, and had some luck mixed along with it. Either one of the two seemed the most likely scenario. The exact way she got out of Vale's walls was spotty, the more she thought of it, but she didn't think it mattered much. What was more surprising was this man's Semblance; she hadn't seen anything quite like it. One of the much rarer ones, for sure. "You have a weird Semblance yourself."

"I know," Ozpin said. "You can sleep for a while, Ruby. It's a long ride to your condo."

"Maybe later," Ruby replied. There was plenty of time to sleep once she got to her bed. She then reached for Crescent Rose, hoping that a routine inspection of her weapon would keep her awake.

"Nice dustmetal weapon you have there," Ozpin remarked. "How long did it take you to build it? You showed skill in using it against those beowolves, and that design you chose for it is a rare sight."

"I built Crescent Rose six months ago, and finished it in a week on my first try." A complex alloy of Dust and other metals, dustmetal was used to make weapons that improved their user's Semblance control, with most having the ability to transform back and forth from guns to melee. Combined with one's spiritual energy, creating one was hard work with a good chance of failure. But she still made Crescent Rose a reality through sheer passion and skill, and her original design of it being a sniper scythe went virtually unchanged in the forging process.

"You're planning to be a Hunter, aren't you?"

Ruby nodded sheepishly. For all the preparation she made, it stung that she didn't pass the Hunter tests that were given four months ago, and she didn't want to admit it to Ozpin just yet. But if he connected the dots as she suspected, his face showed no sign of it. "What about your sword, Ozpin?" she asked in an attempt to change the subject. She hadn't noticed much of his weapon in the heat of battle against the nihilith, but she enjoyed topics about weapons, and she figured it was a fair question to ask.

"I figured you'd be interested," Ozpin said, and took out his swordstick, stopping at the ricasso. Even with only a partial draw, she could see the crystal linings in the fuller that gave this type of weapon its namesake, and they glowed upon Ozpin activating his Semblance. "Its name is Memoria, and it's been a Levert family heirloom for generations."

Ruby couldn't hide her surprise at the sight of an actual aurastone weapon; she was fully awake now. Aurastones were the original weapons Hunters used throughout history, but they had their issues. They had more difficult forging requirements, they didn't transform, and they were also much riskier to use effectively, hampering an already beleaguered humanity in the old days, with only a small number having the ability to use them to their full potential. But with Hunters now able to create dustmetal, which was both easier to use and make in comparison, no aurastone was said to have been created since the Dust Revolution. Nonetheless, the superior Semblance control aurastones provided made them valuable weapons, and it was no surprise they also made for great heirlooms, having the benefit of not being 'locked in' to their creators unlike dustmetal ones. Only she could use Crescent Rose for example, but any Hunter could technically use an aurastone, and for Ozpin to use one the way he did explained much of his fighting capabilities.

"Why don't you tell Ruby about yours too, Glynda?"

"My weapon's named Temperance," the woman replied. "And yes, it's also a Goodwitch aurastone family heirloom."

The look of amazement on Ruby's face was unmistakable, and Ozpin chuckled at the sight of her almost gawking at what she heard. "Don't make it look like we're unbeatable here just because we have these weapons," he said as he put Memoria back in its scabbard. "You're making Peter feel bad. You should hear his Semblance some time."

"I don't think she'd like to hear that," Peter said with a laugh, and Ruby made sure to tell them that she knew better. An aurastone wielder wouldn't just automatically win against a dustmetal one, as one's Semblance, the manifestation of one's soul, was by far the biggest deciding factor in a fight. And with seemingly no limit to what one could possibly have as a Semblance, a Hunter could in theory have powers that would crush any resistance. Ruby didn't lack imagination in thinking of the possibilities. Though if anyone really did have anything close to overwhelming power, then the Grimm would have gone extinct already. Or maybe humanity along with it.

"You're a good girl, Ruby," Ozpin remarked as he crossed his arms, clearly enjoying her reactions, though his eyes were in a pensive mood. "I'm glad you survived what happened at Patch. Glynda and I were tasked to investigate the morning after, and part of that was to account for any Hunters living in the area. Your father's name showed up on our records as living in Patch, with you registered as his daughter, and we feared the worst when we couldn't find either of you in the aftermath."

Ruby slowly nodded. So, it had been about that. She now understood why they acted the way they did when they heard her name, and she appreciated Ozpin's straightforwardness. "Sorry it was hard for you guys to find us. I was just following his instructions, and he himself has been on a mission for months now… This isn't the first time he buried himself in his work."

Ozpin paused for a moment, absorbing what she said, and he looked like he was weighing something in his mind. "I see. That explains why we haven't been able to call him. When was the last time you saw him? Did he tell you anything before he left?"

Ruby shook her head. "He came back a few days after my mom died, then left again, saying that he had a mission." It was true. Her mother died from a Grimm attack at the border four months ago – she knew about it the same day she flunked the Hunter tests, as if failure wasn't enough – and they both found it difficult to accept her passing. Her dad cried alongside her, having lost a wife too. But for him to leave soon after… Work would never be a good answer for her. "He couldn't even tell me when he'd be back."

"And he never contacted you, even after the Grimm almost destroyed Patch?"

"He messaged me the day after, asking about what happened. When I told him our house was destroyed…" Ruby's voice weakened, feeling the awful memories go back up again. Patch was her hometown located right beside Vale's southern border, and the Grimm somehow found a way to break through the wall. Hunters arrived just in time to destroy the invading Grimm before the townsfolk were massacred. But great damage was still done to the village, and Patch never really recovered after that. It was no longer the same place she grew up in. And after what she failed to do, neither was she. "Dad gave me the address of a condo for me to stay in. He still sent me weekly allowances like always, except this time he made me promise to remain there until I heard from him again. Looking back, I wish I kept that promise." It was a simple thing to do in hindsight; Ruby regretted that she couldn't follow her dad's instructions. Despair got the better of her tonight, and she almost died for it.

"I understand," Ozpin finally said, with a tone that considered the topic settled. But Ruby sensed that something was still amiss – or rather, that the man still had something to say – as she saw him gaze at the night sky. "I checked this year's applicants for Beacon while you were sleeping," he continued, suddenly changing the subject, and he turned to face her. "Are you sure that being a Hunter is what you want? Not just to become a defender, but to also become a mercenary, among other things. Is that what you really want?"

It was out in the open at last. Ozpin had to know for sure that she failed now that he admitted going through Beacon's records. But Ruby knew full well what being a Hunter meant, and Ozpin would be wrong if he thought rejection was what that drove her to kill Grimm at Forever Fall. Having to wait next year to try again was one thing, but there was another promise she made. She remembered a promise she made about attending Beacon, not so long ago. Ruby smiled faintly. "More than you know."

"I see." Ozpin then made another knowing smile, the same one he showed her earlier at the forest. "Glynda, hand me the folder."

Ruby saw Glynda hesitate for a bit before she took out a thick folder from the car's glove compartment. She handed it over to Ozpin, who then searched the stack of papers until he found some yellow sheets. Setting aside the rest, the man took out a pen, and began signing the bottom parts of the papers with a distinct flourish.

"What's this about?" Ruby asked.

"The kingdom took great lengths to win back the public's trust after what happened at Patch," Ozpin said, "and they understand the impact we private militaries had in the outcome of that invasion. Things would have turned out very differently had they relied on mobilizing their own forces instead. That's why, in the interest of bolstering Vale' defenses in case of another Grimm invasion, the royalty recently revised their contract with Beacon and Signal. They gave us headmasters greater leeway on who we can recruit, by allowing us to recruit potential Hunters that might have slipped through the cracks. Potential Hunters just like you, Ruby. And given the fighting talents I saw from you earlier, I want you to sign in."

Ruby was shocked at what she heard. She never could have imagined that their conversation would lead to this, and her mind struggled to make sense of the news. Could Ozpin really give her a free pass to Beacon to join this year's batch? Autumn was right around the corner too, right on time for the school year to start. She trusted Ozpin, but it still sounded too good to be true. "...you can't be serious."

"I'm completely serious," Ozpin replied. "Do you think I'm joking?"

"But I failed the tests…"

"I know."

"Are you guys just taking pity on me?"

"Pity has nothing to do with this."

"But why? Am I really that good? And I also went out of the border without a Hunter license…"

Ozpin handed the papers over to Ruby, and a pen along with them. "And now's your chance to get one."

Ruby read through the documents she held, carefully studying it. They were legitimate as far as she could tell. Was it really this simple? Ozpin mentioned she was good at fighting, but taking on multiple beowolves was normal for Hunters, and she couldn't think of any reason why that alone merited acceptance to Beacon, or to any other private military company for that matter. It had to be pity, right? But somehow, she had a gut feeling that it wasn't so simple. It had to be about something else…

Ozpin steepled his hands as he observed her. "Take your time in thinking about it, Ruby. Just always be aware of what a Hunter is supposed to do. What happened at Patch doesn't have to happen again, and with your help we can continue to protect the people of Vale from the Grimm, just like what you've always wanted to do. Or you can just refuse." That last sentence had a certain bite to it. "Then we can all forget everything about what happened tonight. But you'll remain stuck where you are, and I know that's no longer where you want to be."

Ruby took a deep breath. Ozpin was right. Whatever his reasons were, what did she have to lose? Now she had the opportunity to finally fulfill that promise she made, and do something productive to society as well. She thought this was the right mindset to take. So why was she hesitating? The pen lay still in her hand.

She couldn't help but glance at the two people in front of her, both silent since Ozpin brought up Patch. Peter keeping quiet while driving was one thing, but Glynda seemed to have her attention elsewhere, even though there was no way she wasn't hearing this. What could she be thinking about?

"Think about it carefully," Ozpin added. "I understand your hesitation over the suddenness of this, but consider the good you can do as a Hunter. Life isn't as hopeless as you think it is, and for all you know, Beacon might just be where you'll find what you've been looking for."

No, I don't think I'll find it there. Or anywhere else, to be honest. "And what is it do you think I'm looking for?"

"Only you can answer that, Ruby," the man replied calmly, then put his attention on his phone, content in having said his piece.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ruby sighed in relief as she finally finished the last of her chores, and enjoyed the calm spring breeze that blew past the rural house where she lived, coupled with a late afternoon sun. It was necessary work with the large area of land they owned, and as an only child with busy parents, she could only imagine the work she'd have if her family managed a farm too, though thankfully they found no need for that. Located right at the edge of the border, with the huge southern border wall visible from the distance, her rustic village called Patch was a favorite of retirees and those wanting to escape the hassles of the city, offering peace and a simple life of being part of the kingdom's agricultural district.

She returned the tools she used back into the toolshed. Well, having a farm was just a random thought, born out of wondering what it would feel like to have chickens as companions. Both her parents were Hunters, nowadays so busy with work that she managed the house all by herself for two years now, and the few friends she had were too busy with their own farms and personal lives to hang out. Not that she could blame anyone, of course. She understood why her parents were away, and she was also busy training to become a Hunter as well, like she always wanted ever since her Semblance manifested. But being the only one among her friends to have the gift, it was unfortunate that she would have to attend a Hunter school by herself, and she thought herself too awkward to make new friends, as lonely as she was.

"Ruby! Dinner's ready! Come over here when you're done, ok?"

There was no mistaking that voice coming from the house, and so Ruby went inside to find her mother in the dining room. She smiled at the sight of fried chicken, honey butter biscuits, and macaroni and cheese at the table, and came complete with orange soda to wash it all down. Her mother Summer Rose managed to come home for a day, for the first time since they were deployed to Beacon for their special type of work, and she made the effort to cook her some of her favorite food. "Thanks, Mom."

"I figured you'd be hungry," Her mother sat alongside Ruby, observing her fill up her plate and wolf down her food. Beautiful with a warm personality, she had the same silver eyes and the same hair color as Ruby did, right down to the red highlights, with the only difference being that she preferred white clothes over black. Indeed, Ruby was a carbon copy of her mother in almost all aspects. "How are you doing with your training for the upcoming Hunter tests? The exams are just two months away."

"I'm ready for it." Ruby was as ready as she could ever be. She carefully studied the history and role of a Hunter for the written test, and while her powers were just average in the grand scheme of things, she still worked hard to master her speed boost Semblance as best she could for the physical. "I know I can pass."

"Alright sweetheart. Just remember what I told you about taking this too seriously. There's always next year if things don't work out." Summer paused for a bit. "And there will always be other careers."

"I know that," Ruby said flatly. Her mother was supportive, but at the same time she made it a point to temper expectations, and she never missed an opportunity to highlight the benefits of other jobs. More than once she took the time to tell her of the Hunters who never made it back from their missions. She understood her mother's point, but it was only normal and honorable to use one's Semblance to protect people from the Grimm, just like it had always been throughout the centuries. Besides, she was 18 now, and she was capable of making her own choices. "Were you able to call Dad earlier?"

"Not yet," Summer replied. "He's busy at the moment, but I'll be calling him later tonight. Do you have something to ask him?"

"Will both of you be free to celebrate Yuletide with me this year?"

Her mother bit her lip, and slowly shook her head. "We can't, Ruby. Today's the only time off I could get, and your father couldn't get any at all. But if you manage to get into Beacon, then maybe we can find a way to spend some time with you at your dorm…" Her words trailed off, and she cleared her throat; she looked like she didn't even believe herself. "I'm sorry sweetheart. I know this isn't what you want to hear. But our current deployment will be finished by next year, I promise."

Ruby nodded absently as she went for a glass of soda. She wondered why she even bothered to delay asking it. This wasn't the first time she heard this kind of disappointing news, and it didn't help that her mother would be leaving tomorrow, after only being here for just a day. After being alone here in Patch for so long, was it really too much to ask for a holiday together with her family? But Ruby suppressed the frown that was forming on her face. Despite her disappointment, her mother didn't need to see it.

Suddenly Ruby realized that her mother was unusually timid with her food – she never delayed eating unless she was waiting for something – and soon after Ruby noticed the extra plate set on the table. The food around her would serve more than just two people, now that she thought about it; Ruby was just about to remark on it when their doorbell rang, and her mother's face brightened. "You finally decided to drop by, hmm?" she whispered to herself, barely able to hide her excitement, then turned to Ruby. "Sweetheart, please be a dear and go meet our guest."

"Our guest?" Ruby asked. "Who's arriving?"

Summer smiled. "I didn't really want this to be a surprise. But our new neighbor had just arrived, and he lives at the nearby house, the one that was recently finished. So in the spirit of hospitality, I've decided that we–

"We're here," Ozpin said, and Ruby woke up with a startled look on her face.

On her left was the familiar sight of her condominium; they had arrived at the northern residential districts. Ruby realized she had dozed off again, though she doubted that her sleep this time was simply caused by her tiredness. As she stirred, she found the documents Ozpin gave her on her lap, and all with her signature on them.

There was a proud look in Ozpin's eyes. "I can only imagine what's going on in your mind, given how long it took you to sign them. But rest assured, you made the right decision in the end. There's a big difference in being part of something much bigger than yourself."

Ruby gave a slight nod. She hoped she made the right decision; she had done too many wrong ones. "Sorry if I took so long. But I really appreciate what you're doing for me. Thank you."

"No need to apologize," Ozpin said. "It's only natural to need some time, given what you've just been through. Feel free to come to our office anytime if you need anything else. We'll be more than happy to help, in any way we can."

Ruby nodded again, and as Ozpin gave her instructions on what to do next – rest for the next two days, wake up early to catch the earliest airbus to Beacon, get accustomed to her dorms, attend the opening ceremony on time, among many other things – her mind wandered to that dream she just had. She was actually a sleepyhead by nature, but this past month had wrecked her sleep cycle for the worst, and she had been dreading her recent dreams. But this one was something other than a repeat of the night in Patch for once. It was the last time her mother visited before she died, and also the first time she met–

"Do you have any questions, Ruby?"

Ruby shook her head, embarrassed that Ozpin might have caught her spacing out while he talked, but she really did hear every word he said, and hopefully the smile she gave him erased any hard feelings. Once again Ruby gave her thanks to all three of them for their help. They really have done so much for her – saving her life, giving her entry to Beacon, and even giving her a ride home – and seeing Ozpin nod was a welcome sight. Perhaps now was a good time to take her leave. She opened the car door.

"Ruby, before you go…"

The girl stopped, then turned and found Glynda looking back at her. "I'm sorry about what happened to Summer," the woman said. "We knew each other from way back."

Ruby nodded, making sure to give her appreciation to Glynda for her condolences, and hid her surprise that someone like Glynda would know of her personally. Ozpin and Peter, she could believe – they certainly didn't act like they didn't know Summer – but Glynda had struck her as someone who preferred solitude, and only suffered acquaintances for job purposes. Ruby thought she didn't know how to lighten up either, but here she was, smiling as if she was an aunt finally visited by her favorite niece. Not something she expected out of her at all. "Just like Ozpin said, promise that you'll come to us if you need any help, alright?" Glynda continued. "You don't have to face things alone anymore, Ruby. Not anymore."

That last line struck a chord in Ruby's heart. "I will. I promise." With Peter giving her a thumbs up, she took this as her cue to leave. Stepping out of the car, she made one last look at Ozpin and the others. Her dream aside, she needed to rest and prepare for Beacon now that she had committed, and she had much to think about in the upcoming days. Words have weight. "Thanks again, for everything. I guess I'll be seeing you guys soon enough."

"We'll be waiting at the academy," Ozpin said with a smile. "Good luck, Ruby. We wish you all the best."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ozpin gazed at the shattered moon as they left Ruby's condo, his thoughts contemplating on recent events. Tasked by Vale to sweep the borders and verify sightings of Class Two Grimm, seeing one was bad enough, but that nihilith they just killed was their third in two days. These types of Grimm normally roamed the much deeper parts of the wilderness and didn't burrow; what caused their behavior to change? And could more Class Two Grimm really be hiding near the border, as he had begun to fear? This would have to be carefully reported to the royalty. The last thing anyone needed was for this to leak to the public.

All this made him remember what happened at Patch. He himself didn't believe the official story the kingdom released. With eyewitnesses verifying only one Class Two Grimm in the invading force, there was no way a bunch of beowolves and rakshasas could have broken through the border wall by themselves. It simply couldn't happen in a vacuum. Either there were other Class Two Grimm unaccounted for, or there was more to the attack than the royalty let on; details were scarce beyond the official narrative. But he had his ways to get to the truth. He was not only a headmaster, but a Hunter as well, with an enormous responsibility put on his shoulders, and he took to heart his duty to ensure that Vale's defenses had no weakness for the Grimm to exploit. Or any human enemy of the kingdom, for that matter. He wasn't about to discount even that.

He took a deep breath on that last train of thought. There were unsettling implications in that, along with ramifications he didn't want to consider right now, and so he forcibly set them aside for the time being. There would be plenty of time for that if the worst came to pass, and for now he needed to wait for more information before he could make his move.

His thoughts went to Ruby. All that effort in finding her to get to her father, just to meet her in Forever Fall of all places – who could have expected that? The girl meant well, but it was obvious to him that she carried an incredible weight in her heart, to the point where she went off to kill beowolves in what could only be due to a fit of cold rage. She was already dangling on a cliff's edge, having lost her mother and failing the Hunter tests four months ago, and he wondered what finally made her snap. Something must have happened to her in Patch beyond the Grimm attack. Something she would never admit to anyone out of shame, and while there was no benefit to him if he had pried earlier, it piqued his curiosity nonetheless.

Nevertheless, they all knew what had to be done. Ruby needed to be in their sights now that they had found her. She could either be a lead or just bait, but in any case, things became easier now that she had signed up for Beacon. But there was no doubt that her father tried to anticipate this. Why else would he put so much effort in hiding the girl without her even knowing it?

They needed to find him soon; he could only stall for so long. Already some in the royal court was asking for his whereabouts. But Ozpin couldn't just tell them that the man disappeared without a trace. There was no telling what the royals would do once they found out, and that was one headache he didn't need.

Ozpin's forehead furrowed. He already knew why Ruby's father hadn't appeared for months now; he was hated by the man for what happened to Summer, simple as that. But as to why he still hadn't come back to get his revenge on him, and why he abandoned his responsibilities to Vale… Are you still looking for her killer, you damned fool?

"So, that was Ruby Rose," Peter said. "An innocent but troubled girl, and she looks just like her mother."

"She also thinks just like her father," Ozpin replied. "They both have problems with guilt."

"I just don't want another Summer to happen." Glynda said sharply. "We're already taking advantage of Ruby just to get to her father, so don't let it go beyond that. Do what you have to do, but don't you dare let her get involved in any this. Or in anything else that we do, for that matter. She'll graduate and live out her Hunter life in some safe corner of the kingdom, nothing more or less."

"I promise." Ozpin was quite familiar with the reality of what they do; he would never let Ruby get involved in them. Glynda bringing up Summer's fate whenever she could definitely made sure of that. But as much as she never really forgave him for that, he was also sure that she had yet to forgive herself. And for a harsh woman who rarely showed mirth, he immediately saw her relieved smile when they realized they found Ruby in the forest. Glynda was determined to make amends in her own way now that Summer's daughter was found. "You have my word on that."

Glynda said nothing. Whether she was satisfied with his answer or not was unclear, but Ozpin would just have to make do with it. This was fair to him, so long as they could still work together amicably. He deserved the scorn she brought up every now and then anyways, for all of his mistakes.

Ozpin reclined in his seat. He secretly had another reason why he wanted Ruby to be at Beacon, safely under his eye. Each person's Semblance had a certain feel, and using his own Semblance he knew how to handle each type, given time, as long as he had a sensation to work with. But he felt nothing when Ruby used hers right in front of him; as basic as her Semblance was, it was nevertheless a void so unlike anything else he experienced. And there was the fact that she managed to slip past the walls to consider as well. While it wasn't technically impossible, Ozpin doubted Ruby could have been so successful in what must have been her first try. Did Ruby herself even know the magnitude of what she just did? Maybe not, as the girl wasn't really thinking straight. But that didn't change the fact that all this couldn't just be a mere oddity. He was a careful man when it came to these things, and he wasn't about to underestimate its importance.

His phone rang – it was his contact stationed up north, in Atlas territory – and he quickly picked it up. "Took you long enough to call, Leon. About time we heard from you. I was almost worried you got lost in that frozen wasteland. Well, what's going on up there? What news do you have?"

But the news he heard from Leon wasn't what Ozpin expected, and his face slowly darkened, absorbing every word. "Understood," he said tersely. "Update as soon as you can. Time is more important than ever. Be careful out there." Then Ozpin hung up.

"What did Leon say?" Glynda asked, who had now turned to face him. "Is something the matter? What's going on up there?"

Ozpin told them what happened; their surprised and furious reactions were just about normal. And who could blame them? It was hard enough to keep his own face calm. What was up with this night and all these events happening at the same time?

They would have to be ready to pick up Leon once he was finished with his mission, and prepare something to show to the high court once they had all their data, as no one would believe them otherwise. Ozpin felt a chill run down his spine. It made their third Class Two kill appear trivial, and his darkest suspicions about what happened in Patch seemed to pale in contrast. He recalled an old promise. Who's funding this project this time, and what's their progress on it? Just how many poor souls had been sacrificed? And if they succeed… Ozpin stopped; it made him sick to even speculate.

Ozpin cleared his mind, with some effort. While it wasn't his main assignment, he took it upon himself to know as much as he could about Atlas – as per that old promise that branded itself in his mind – and he could only hope that Leon's complete report would come soon enough. As much as they believed Leon, he needed to back up his findings as soon as possible; Vale needed to know exactly what they were dealing with. With how fast things were accelerating, time was not on their side.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ruby opened the lights as she entered her condo room. It was actually quite large for a unit with a studio floor plan. While made with two people in mind, it might just accommodate four if they didn't mind sleeping in the sofa bed. But as spacious as it was, she felt no attachment here, with no good memories to hold on to. There was only despair and loathing in this place.

Yeah, that was awful of me to have done that. I'm sorry for doing something so stupid.

So much had happened tonight, and Ruby felt her body crave for rest as she placed Crescent Rose down near her bed. She would be entering Beacon two days from now, and she needed to start having the best sleep she could get, so she undressed and went inside the shower to bathe, with the hot water on her skin providing much needed comfort. But here in the small space of her bathroom, and in one of her brooding spots, she recalled how she was caught completely helpless by a nihilith, and she instinctively flinched at the thought. It wasn't the first time that a Class Two Grimm had gotten the best of her. It shamed her that she had shown such mental weakness tonight, almost forfeiting her life simply because of her whims and impulses.

I'm sorry about what I did there. I couldn't help it. I couldn't take it anymore. I've locked myself up in here for a month… I guess something finally snapped in my head. But you were still there for me, so thank you for doing that, even though I don't listen. Thank you.

And yet, despite her foolishness, she was given an opportunity to be part of the upcoming batch at Beacon, and for the first time in a long while she now had something to look forward to. There was no risk of her failing any tests, and she had no excuse not to accept. Deep down, she still desired to become a Hunter despite her fears, and it was a far better goal than just sneaking out the border to kill random Grimm in the forest.

I've always been scared to try again. I didn't think I could try again next year just to humiliate myself. But now that I've entered Beacon… Well, I can't promise I'll do great, and I might get cold feet, but I don't want to keep running away. I don't want to mope around anymore doing nothing. You know how badly I've always wanted to become a Hunter one day, right? As scared as I am right now, I still remember that promise I made to you, and I want to fulfill it.

Ruby finished bathing, and quickly dried herself to dress into her pajamas, composed of long white pants decorated with pink roses, and a black tank top with a wolf's head in the middle, shaped like a heart. It was one of her favorite gifts, having a rose motif that matched her Semblance, and the wolf was a nice touch – a welcome reminder of who she got it from. She smiled wistfully as she looked at herself in the mirror. She always wore these pajamas whenever she could.

Ruby turned the lights off, but she didn't want to sleep just yet. She wanted to browse through her phone's saved pictures first; it was an old habit of hers. She stopped upon seeing a particular one taken months ago, of her and a boy smiling and posing near Patch's biggest burger joint. Her eyes glistened as she recalled cherished memories, and she even managed to chuckle a bit. I still remember everything. Ever since we were together, that night when we first met. Breathing deeply, Ruby wiped off the tears that fell down her cheeks. With his copper eyes and her silver ones, their colors really did make such a nice complement.

Goodnight, Cale. More than anything, please stay with me always.

Holding her pillow in a tight embrace, Ruby turned off her phone, and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.