Secrets Unveiled

"Secrets. They can be used for good or evil. Hiding the truth and facts about certain subjects that can be for the better, or the worst.

For some, there should be no such thing as secrets. As doing so can enable misunderstandings that lead to potential tensions and disagreement. Where the truth can give a clear image and allow understanding of what is happening.

Yet at the same time, secrets can protect people from the awful truth. As the truth can be just as damaging as any lie and worse. In that regard, secrets can be a force of good to protect oneself.

But every secret needs and wants to be released. And in time, the choice must be made. To continue hiding it and hope it never comes out. Or reveal it and simply hope for the best. And those who learn will be understanding why the truth has been hidden away."

Inside the Storm Border, while everyone else is enjoying themselves outside and watching a film, only a few individuals are inside the vessel.

The Captain of this ship, with the countless copies of himself that kept good maintenance on the Storm Border. Where the next two are Sion of the Atlas Institute and Headmaster Ozpin of Beacon. Both sitting down across from one another, though while Sion looked quite happy, Ozpin, less so.

After a brief amount of silence, Ozpin then decided to be the first to speak. His eyes glanced over the holographic monitor for a moment before looking back at Sion and asking, "You've been studying my students?"

"Nothing invasive." Sion assured while taking out a tablet. "The technology we have here is not harmful and is fully capable of studying the human body quite easily." After all, if Chaldea can examine Spirit Origins of Heroic Spirits, then studying the results from normal humans is much easier. "But yeah. I won't lie that it might ignore a person's privacy." Sion chuckled while Ozpin rolled his eyes.

"In any case," Getting back to business, Sion then asked, "I'm now quite interested in you."

"Me? Why, I'm nobody special." Ozpin claimed, though Captain Nemo seemed to think otherwise by felt a bit the same as she then showed Ozpin her tablet, which had an image of the Headmaster and readings of all sorts.

"Really?" Sion asked in a sarcastic but playful manner. "Because this says otherwise. Primarily, the magical energy you emulate unconsciously along with what seems to be alteration to your soul."

Now Ozpin looked surprised. With his expression practically admitting he didn't expect Sion to know such things at all. Especially with technology of all things.

"...how-?" Before Ozpin could ask further, Sion provided an instant answer.

"Our world, while limited, has unique technology that can observe and study different beings and lifeforms." The Atlas Institute especially had the technology capable of doing such tricks. "And besides, it's not as if your world hasn't done such things either." Sion then pulled up images of scrolls. "Last I checked, you guys can observe aura, a manifestation of the soul."

"...Touche." Ozpin chuckled. Taking another sip from his mug before putting it back down and swallowing. "It seems you've done your research."

"Kinda have to if one wants to understand the situation we're in." Leaning down on her chair, Sion tapped on her tablet as it showed many images and files of what she knew of this world Remnant. "When we got here, we focused on just what made this world different and the potential dangers it has." The Grimm obviously being the biggest threat by far in this world, seeing as they're everywhere on the planet.

"Know thy enemy." Ozpin quoted a phrase. Approving what Chaldea did, even if they were somewhat breaching private manners here and there. "And, how have you found our world so far?"

"Pretty great really." Frowning a little, Sion then said, "Granted, we had our troubles here and there. Like the Grimm we sometimes ran into. Looking up stuff on the internet we didn't understand. Not to mention the whole 'framing' situation alongside how some Servants have gone totally rogue." But Chaldea was sadly used to things going wrong for them. So it's just another Wednesday for them.

"Mm. Yes, I apologize for your reputation." Ozpin also knew a thing or two about a bad reputation. Recalling one life where he tried gathering warriors to slain Salem, only to be considered a mad man and put in an asylum for three years after. That had been one of the duller lives he led.

"No big deal." Sion waved off his concern. "So long as Chaldea gets the job done here, our reputation can be bad for all we care. Though," Narrowing her eyes, Sion looked at Ozpin with a good grasp at what Ozpin was trying to do. "I think we should go back on topic, don't you think?" About Ozpin's magic and the Maidens.

The Headmaster sighing, realizing that this girl wasn't going to let up. As such, with reluctance, Ozpin merely asked, "What do you wish to know?"

"Lots of things really." Sion got ready to type down the conversation while Nemo got the two some little snacks for them to enjoy. "I mean, I have so many questions. Like how the moon became like that. The creation and actions of the Grimm. The birth of aura and the strange vestiges of mana with the connection to Dust. But," Knowing not everything could be answered all at once, Sion decided to just get straight to the point. "What I want to know is the truth. Such as, did you really not know about Salem's immortality?"

Ozpin said nothing for a few seconds. As he contemplated what to even say. However, silence is an answer all on its own, only it could lead to a misunderstanding. If anything, best to just tell the truth. "I did." Which wasn't all that good in all honesty either.

"...I see." A brief look of apprehension came onto Sion's face. Not that she could be blamed, seeing as Ozpin essentially hid this truth which could have changed the tide of battle between the Argonauts and Salem, maybe even changed things. "Alright then, so what's her version of immortality?" But there's no point in thinking about what-if's and the like and instead Sion needed to focus on the now.

Something Ozpin had to accept now, as hiding information could be critical in the coming battle. "I can't say I know the full details, but it's described that Salem has 'infinite life' while no conventional means can kill her."

"Such as?"

"Bombs. Swords to the chest. Limbs ripped off. Burned to death.'' Ozpin described the many ways he tried ridding her from this world. "Not even reducing her to ashes does anything. Just delay as she regenerates any damage done to her be it minor or fatal."

"Hm. Interesting." That seemed like a high-tier version of immortality. Not the Invincibility that Achilles had or the resurrection Heracles wielded. It was more like a powerful regeneration power like Spartacus only without limit and without the side-effect of turning oneself into a bloated pile of meat as the Berserker could. "Still, infinite life huh…" Did that mean Salem lacked a concept of death?

If so, that would be quite troublesome. Though… "Can't you just trap her?"

"Yes. Trap her." Ozpin actually looked a little annoyed by that. His eyebrows furrowing with his lips turning into a frown. "And, tell me, how would I trap her?"

It was clear that Ozpin has done this dance before, with Sion just being another partner. Still, best to go along with it as she thought hard on this. "First. Is it safe to say she has magical powers?" Better to know her capabilities.

"She can reduce an entire castle to rubble." Granted, it'd be faster with two magic users but Ozpin knew Salem could destroy a castle, even a town on her own if she desired it. And that's without adding the Grimm to her arsenal.

"Strong offense then."

"Along with the ability to command the elements, some capability to shapeshift herself such as, smoke. And her pain tolerance is immense."

"Got it." Okay then, so time to think a little. With her ability Memory Partition, Sion already thought of countless ways of trapping Salem. However, Sion quickly had to discard many of them as most of the methods on trapping Salem needed materials from her world. As such, it is better to focus on methods that utilize Remnant's current resources. After a bit, Sion decided to try from basic to advanced methods.

"A massively thick reinforced metal entrapment." That was the basic and first idea. The idea that you could beat her up -even if temporary - and drag her unconscious form and place her in a giant metal box with no windows or anything of the like.

"No metal can withstand her magic." Ozpin easily rebutted her suggestion. Because unlike earth, Remnant didn't have unique metals that could entrap her and nullify her powers. "It might take time, but she'd eventually wear down the metal and burst free."

"Then method two." Sion raised her hand where her fist then released two fingers. "Dragging and then throwing her into the deepest part of the ocean?" Water pressure could do 'wonders' on the human body. Crushing it flat mainly.

"She's more durable than she appears. Not to mention while it might stall her, Salem would eventually get back to the surface." That wasn't even assuming she'd just call upon an aquatic Grimm to quicken the pace.

"Throw her in a volcano." That one was just for fun really. But Sion knew that even if someone was immortal, it didn't translate to withstand immense pain. Everyone had a limit.

"Funny enough, I actually did try that." Ozpin chuckled before looking serious. "She just flew away while throwing me into the volcano." Sion winced. "Yes. It hurt quite a bit."

"Method three then." Three fingers raised. "Containment by utilizing drugs." In other words, find her, beat her, then while she's knocked out, drug her permanently. A rather fine idea really. Except for one flaw that Salem could exploit without even trying.

"Her…physiology and biology has changed greatly." Truthfully, Ozpin didn't really know how Salem functioned. It was one thing when she had been immortal but was still an ordinary maiden, but a completely different set of circumstances when her body mutated after a dip in the Pools of Grimm. "She can still eat, rest, drink, even…" Give birth. "...feel emotions…but her insides are much different from both human and Grimm." In other words, drugs could work on her. Or it'd fail and when she woke up, she'd slaughter them all. "That, and I'm not even sure how I would carry them without her destroying them."

'I wonder how a study would go on her?' As for Sion, she now pondered curiously how Salem's body functioned the way it was. Many in the Clock Tower would definitely love to preserve and dissect a body like Salem's.

Still, that wasn't the point. As such, Sion went to method four. "Entrapment through use of magic."

"Heh. Not bad really. Ozpin admitted while Sion just smirked. "And yes, there are…methods that utilize magic that I have considered using."

"I'm sensing a 'but' here."

"Correct." Ozpin tapped the arm seat of his chair and looked conflicted. "Truthfully, as mentioned before, no real convenient method can deal with her. Even the basic ones you suggested, while fine, can't be truly done because for the most part, Salem lives on a continent surrounded by Grimm." In other words, trying to trap or knock her out is impossible seeing as she's too far away and surrounded by Grimm that would deal with intruders.

"Then what about the Relics?" Sion then asked.

"Ah, yes. Them. They're-...!" Ozpin's glasses nearly fell when he quickly turned to Sion who was grinning ear to ear. "...How…" He never even gave indication that the Relics were even real. Even if she and Chaldea found some information on the Relics, they'd just be fairy tales in their view. Yet how…?

"Just letting you know," Sion began to explain. "In my world, you wouldn't believe how many myths and fairy tales are actually true. And also, I was just making a good prediction that the Relics were real." Needless to say, she figured it out.

"My." Snapped out of his stupor, Ozpin chuckled. "You're quite the manipulator."

"Aw. No need for compliments." Sion then held a finger to her lips. "Besides, it's not as if you're the only one keeping secrets." Oh. Now that sounded interesting. "But this isn't about me."

"Of course it isn't." Ozpin shakes his head, amused. Letting out his breath, Ozpin then said, "Indeed. The Relics are real. Created by the Gods of Light and Dark. Each wielding great capability, representing Choice, Destruction, Creation and Knowledge."

"They sound strong." The unsaid words were why he didn't use them. The answer was simple.

"The Relics, while powerful, aren't omnipotent." Ozpin then went on to explain the reasoning for not using them. "While each of them can certainly aid humanity, it's not as if they can simply stop Salem like so." Ozpin reached his hand out for the tablet Sion had, which she handed to him without question. From there Ozpin pulled out the images of the four Relics and showed it to her.

"Knowledge is useful. It has helped me figure out Salem's plans now and then. But it isn't as if knowledge can help me kill her, let aside stop her if her plan is merely to attack with an army of Grimm." Not to mention with only three questions, they had to be used wisely. Not a single one must be wasted. Ozpin then points at Choice.

"The power to see a future choice one might make. A limited form of future vision I suppose." Yet once again, another Relic that while useful in realizing some part of the future, it won't defeat Salem were she before him. Next, Creation.

"With the staff, I could make any creation I want."

"Any?"

"Any." Ozpin affirmed. "However, I need to make references and blueprints in order for it to work."

"So if you wanted to, say, make a portal and send her away," Sion lead on with Ozpin picking up right after her.

"I'd need a destination on where she would go." And perhaps Ozpin could send her not anywhere on the planet, but space, even the sun. Except there was a problem with that. "I, and by extension, everyone on Remnant has no idea on the distance between here and space." Due to the reliance on Dust, Remnant hasn't even been capable of figuring out the coordinates of Remnant and the rest of space.

Sure Ozpin could make a portal and send her to the moon. But she'd likely just use her magic to come back like a rocket. And anyone that says to send her to the sun, well, Ozpin would just ask them if they knew the exact distance and coordinates to where the sun is at. Some past members who angrily suggested sending her to the sun shut up when they themselves couldn't figure it out. And that wasn't even mentioning on how Ozpin could shove Salem into the portal in the first place.

"Then we have Destruction." The image of the Sword of Destruction showed. "A weapon that obviously brings destruction. With it, I could slay armies."

"Like the Grimm?"

"Indeed. Oh, but one small problem." Ozpin then looked annoyed. Recalling some individuals who constantly complained he could wipe Salem's Grimm army and attack her with it. Calling him a fool that he even hid the Relic away. The reason why he did so though, "Grimm are everywhere. I destroy one army, she can just gather more Grimm." There were more Grimm on Remnant than humans and faunus.

"And you're only one person." Sion added, understanding Ozpin's reasoning more than most people would. "She could attack somewhere and the Relic of Destruction would be useless since you're not there."

"That and while powerful, the sword can't kill Salem as some would think." Do some fine damage to her, yes. But she'd regenerate like so. "And in the end, keeping the Relics out in the open risks her getting them."

"I read some of the tales that say by gathering all the Relics, a person gains great power." Crossing her arms, Sion leaned forward and asked, "There truth to that?"

"Gathering four powerful Relics would indeed make one near all-powerful." Like he did during the Great War. "But gathering all four Relics will also call upon the ones who created the Relics."

"...safe to say you have reason not to."

"...Indeed." Ozpin won't bother with the specifics, that being the potential end of all of Remnant and everyone living in it. "The point is I only use the Relics on certain circumstances and no more than that."

"I suppose from your perspective, it makes sense." While Sion felt the Relics could be very useful, she can at least understand why Ozpin was hiding them as despite how some might claim, these Relics were just powerful tools. Game changers. But not miracles that can solve every problem. Sion then sighed. "Man, it's a bit of a shame your world doesn't have some of the stuff earth has." Otherwise, the options earth had with dealing with some immortal wish would be more easier.

"I concur. It seems your world has quite the number of options when dealing with immortals. Why, I heard from the Servants Chaldea has actually done quite the number on immortals." Blackbeard did like bragging now and then.

"That we have. Though just saying, none of that was easy." I mean, sure Chaldea did kill these immortals. But quite frankly, it took so much effort, loss, not to mention getting very very lucky with certain circumstances, that dealing with the Beasts and others with powerful regeneration made it more difficult than it should be. If anything, it'd be better if Chaldea didn't have to face them.

Still, that wasn't important right now. As Sion then had one last question to ask. "So," She then started. "How many of those with you know the truth?" Silence is her answer. "Trust issues I'm guessing?"

"...I can't necessarily deny that." Memories of those Ozpin worked with, who once vowed they would help him, would at times then backstab him to outright kill him. "In your opinion, how do you believe most people would react if their opponent is immortal, cannot be stopped, and you lacked any actual methods to truly stop her for good?"

"For regular people…They'd most likely give up." If anything, Sion has seen how with few exceptions like the Fujimaru siblings, most regular humans wouldn't bother fighting for what they believed was a worthless cause. Even Servants might not bother, with the fifth Lostbelt being proof as some Servants left it when they saw how powerful their enemies were.

"Only a few stuck by my side when the truth came out." Ozpin admitted. "For the most part, those who learned the truth either by their own investigation or Salem telling them, left, joined her, blamed and then killed me." Yeesh. Not helping matters was that as an immortal, those memories are with him all the time.

"But isn't keeping these secrets in some ways, dangerous?" If anything, hiding the fact Salem is immortal -not just eternal youth- damaging to Ozpin's group? I mean, if one of his members went to attack her, thinking they could just cut her head off, they'd be in for a surprise when she revived. That's probably how the Argonauts felt when she came back to them without injury.

"...," Once more, silence. Yet Ozpin could be seen contemplating the questions and words Sion gave him.

"In any case, I won't judge you too much for your situation." Sion then said to lift up the mood. "This is your world, and your life. And I can see you've had it pretty rough from both trying to defeat Salem with lying to others at times." If anything, one shouldn't conclude they'd do better than Ozpin in fighting against Salem, since they never knew the full scope of the war. If anything, Chaldea also would have trouble since if they arrived here, they wouldn't even know about Salem who would know about them and make plans to deal with them.

"Perhaps you are right." With a weary look, Ozpin said, "Maybe these secrets I kept have caused some harm." From getting some dear friends injured or killed because they didn't know the truth to those who ran off because they felt despair. As such, maybe now is the time to reveal them. If only because Salem is coming at last.

"Then let's do it. And don't worry. I'll be sure to keep the others off your back if they try getting upset." Like Goredolf, who'd probably be mad at being kept in the dark. The Fujimaru siblings, they'll be alright though. Not the first time a Servant kept a secret from them nor will it be the last. Besides, in the end it wasn't as if Ozpin was keeping these things out of malice. If anything, he kept them because of mistrust and fear of how people would react.

"Ready to give out the honest truth?" asked Sion as she then stood up.

"Considering the stakes coming here, I suppose I must." While now ready to explain Salem's abilities and the truth about the Relics, Ozpin for a moment pondered about revealing the actual relationship he had of Salem to how his curse truly came to be.

"If it helps, you don't have to reveal everything." Turning To Sion, Ozpin raised a brow. A bit surprised seeing as she's the one who told him to not keep secrets. The young scientist smiling. "Just reveal what you know of Salem. Any personal matters that relate to you…" Sion shrugged. "Well, unless it helps win this fight, then don't bother. Not like every secret needs to be shared." After all, Chaldea didn't need to know she's actually a vampire, helping them out just fine with that knowledge hidden.

"You really are an interesting girl."

"That I am." Sion accepted the compliment. "Oh. Another quick question." Taking back her tablet, Sion then quickly did a search and then showed a news article to Ozpin. One that then happened to show none other than her. Or Remnant's version of her anyway. "Know anything about this?" Along with the fact that there might be Remnant versions of the others elsewhere like Erice apparently and who knows who else.

"I have seen many things. Know very much." Ozpin then made a smirk. "But it's not as if I know everything."

"Mmmm." Sion pouted while Ozpin chuckled. The two leave to speak with the others to discuss further plans on stopping Salem once and for all.

And so Ozpin will reveal the truth. Most of it anyway. I doubt he'd want to explain he was once MARRIED to Remnant's greatest threat, as that'd be both awkward and uncomfortable. Though he'll still get a yell for keeping the whole Salem being immortal a secret and what-not. But hey, better than when Jinn showed it.