(The following is part of the book 'Shattered Assumptions')

Neve POV

The next couple days were nothing particularly worth noting.

We were all just enjoying the time we had to relax and recuperate, preparing ourselves for the ceremony that would come in a scant few days. It was exciting, honestly, and the desire to hurry up and get my Huntsman license was making the days feel like they were dragging slowly

However, something happened after those couple days passed.

I was visiting Shade and had just finished discussing ways to shore up Vacuo's defenses with Theodore. Walking through the halls of Shade, students looked at me strangely, however most of them didn't look long. Maybe it was the way I carried myself with poise and confidence, maybe it was the fact that word had likely spread about me talking a great deal with Theodore, but nobody gave me any trouble.

I was on the second floor, about to descend to the first, when I heard Damian's voice call out to me as I was about to open the stair access, "H-Hey, Neve!" I looked over and sure enough he was standing there, wearing his usual getup, bomber jacket and all, "Uhm… Can I… talk to you?" At my skeptical look, he said, "It's… kinda important. Actually, no, it's very important."

I could see he was being genuine, so I stepped away from the stairwell access and nodded, "Alright Damian, lead the way."

We started to walk. The only sound being our footsteps against the stone floors and the sound of my cane making repeated contact with it in sync with my steps. The boy looked extremely guilty, like he'd done something wrong. I had no idea what it was, but at that moment I thought there was no way it could be that bad.

I was wrong. I was very wrong.

We reached a certain door that he opened with a key he had in his pocket, Shade not seeming to have the same level of advanced technology as Beacon, and stepped inside. I followed after him and saw it was his dorm room. Rooms in Shade were single person, but they didn't exactly give much room for personal belongings. Mistral had single person, private bathroom dorms that had communal kitchens for the team, it did it far better.

Shade was never about comfort, though, it was about strength, and I respected that. Of course I did, I indirectly built the place.

The bed was twin, pushed against a wall, there was a single desk, a closet, and a window looking out at Vacuo, but nothing else.

He stepped forward a few paces as I shut the door behind me, then he turned around and stared at me for a few moments. The look in his eyes was a storm of emotions, guilt, sorrow, regret… He clenched his fists, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath before speaking softly, "So…When I was a baby… I was adopted."

I knew there was more to it than that, so I just rested my cane in front of me and placed my hands over it while I waited. He opened his eyes again, "B-By… Salem. I think… she might have had something to do with my parents dying in the first place, but… she raised me, I have… no memory of my parents. Just her, and her pawns."

Shock coursed through my body, electric and powerful. My eyes widened and my grip on my cane tightened, but I didn't move to speak. He looked down, "She raised me to think that Ozpin… you, now, I guess… wes nothing but a parasite who seized innocent peoples' bodies and overwrote their personalities. She told me that everything you did was evil, and that she had the answers. So… she sent me to Shade so I could get Huntsman training, and so I could give her all the information she and her servants needed."

He squeezed his eyes shut, it seemed like every word he spoke hurt him physically, his voice strained, "I… I've fed Salem and her servants so much info on Vacuo, on the school, but then…"

His voice dropped to a whisper, "But then…"

Damian swallowed a lump in his throat, "I met Rook, I met Peregrine, I met… Vesta." He took a sharp, shaky breath, and I could hear his voice beginning to break, "A-And I began to doubt, because they were all so kind, so… wonderful. They were nothing like what Salem told me Huntsmen were like, and Vesta… I asked myself how a parasite could raise such a wonderful, amazing, and inspiring girl. But…"

He opened his eyes, tears began streaming down his face as he looked me in the eyes, anguish clearly written on his face, "Even if I had my doubts, I still didn't change! For so long! I started feeding Orchid info on your group, when they showed up, and I knew where you were the whole time! I-I told myself that you were a parasite, that I was keeping Vesta safe by not telling her where you were, and that if she knew, she'd rush in and die…"

His wings flared, raising and falling quickly, as if he wanted to take flight and leave out the window, "But then Vesta… She broke down, she talked about how much you… Ozpin… meant to her. She was so heartbroken, I'd… I'd never seen her like that before. Someone like her… they should never have a reason to break down like that. It's… wrong."

Then, he took a ragged breath before looking away, "A-And… not long after that, she… she told me that she loved me. And you know what?" He returned his gaze to me and placed a hand over his head, stepping forward with his right foot, "I love her too! That's why… I pretended I was going out scouting, I pretended I found the compound, and then I told her where it was. I thought that maybe we could save you, and that the fusion wouldn't be complete, because when Cinder told us what would happen, that you were going to take over him, Ozpin… He would be gone. Dead by any other name. And yet…"

He swallowed a lump in his throat, the energy he had in his voice a moment ago seemed drained, and now he sounded as exhausted as he did destroyed by guilt, "And yet… we were too late. We missed him by a few minutes! If I hadn't been so stupid, if I hadn't… If I hadn't held on to what Salem told me… Then he'd still be here! He would have been able to say goodbye! A-And…" His legs seemed to give out and he fell to his knees, still looking down, "I know it's all my fault. Vesta lost her dad because of me. Vesta lost one of the most important people in her life… because of me…"

He looked up at me, eyes red from crying and face stained with tears, "I-I'm not going to ask you to forgive me, but… I couldn't live with this… this guilt anymore. I know… I know when Vesta finds out, she'll never want to talk to me again. And I'll deserve it, but… you deserved to know first. So you… So you could decide what you want to do with me." He looked down for a final time, his voice hoarse and weak, "...So you could decide if you wanted to kill me for what I did. I deserve it. I… I just want you to know that I'm… I'm sorry. Even if that doesn't mean anything. I'm… I'm so sorry..."

I stood there for a few moments, thoroughly stunned, as he continued to look down, awaiting my judgment. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before beginning to walk forward. It was hard to describe exactly how I felt in that moment, angry? Most certainly. Sorrowful? Incredibly. Vengeful?

…No. No, not at all.

I stopped a couple feet away from Damian, "You…" I began, my voice filled with those barely restrained emotions, "You…"

Then, I raised my cane in my right hand and whacked him in the head with it, eliciting a yelp of pain as I yelled, "Idiot!" I then reached down with my left hand, grabbed him by the collar, and lifted him to his feet before pushing him against the wall. I glared directly into his eyes as he stared fearfully into mine, "Do you understand how much damage you've caused?! How many lives you've put in danger? The sheer amount of pure evil you've endorsed?"

He squeezed his eyes shut and nodded. I didn't need to look into them to know the amount of raw, primal, fear he felt. It was mixed in with the rest of his emotional torrent, I lowered my voice to a whisper, "And you know what, Damian Nocturne?" He kept his eyes squeezed shut and I growled out, "Look at me. Look. At. Me."

Damian opened his eyes and looked into mine again, they were wide, and he was still crying, although it looked as if he was running out of tears. He looked at me in clear anticipation for what would be his end, I could kill him easily, he wasn't fighting back, I doubted he would raise his aura to defend himself, it would be like swatting a fly.

I raised my cane…

Then I dropped it and pulled him into a tight hug, whispering softly, "It's going to be okay." I heard his breath hitch, and I squeezed him tighter, stepping us away from the wall by a single step, "It's all going to be alright. Damian… you're not evil. I…"

I swallowed a lump in my throat, "I forgive you."

Those words seemed to strike him hard, as he choked back a sob before beginning to weep right on my shoulder. He whispered back, "Wh-Why? I'm… I'm a traitor. I worked for Salem. You should hate me…"

I closed my eyes, "She raised you, didn't she? Then how can I blame you for doing what you were told was the right thing? You thought you were being a hero, you didn't know what Salem was doing was evil. She messed with your view of the world, you… are as much a victim as anyone else she's hurt." My voice raised back to a normal volume, "And it's true, what you did was nothing short of enabling and fostering evil. However, I can't in good conscience call you evil, call you a villain, because you really had no choice in the matter. Yet you still found it in your heart to turn your back on all you knew, even if it was a bit late."

I pulled away slightly, so I could look him in the eyes, and then I said, "You went against the programming she worked so hard to instill into you. That tells me that, in spite of everything she did to you, you're still a good person. In your heart, you still want to be a hero and right your wrongs. So listen, and listen well, Damian…"

He looked like he still had more crying to do, but was desperately holding it back. My voice was soft and gentle as I said, "You're going to keep fighting. You're going to support Vesta. You're going to wipe away those tears and stand with me against the darkness. You can't give up just yet, and I won't let you do so, because the path to redemption starts here. You put yourself at my mercy, revealed everything to me, and I don't need five thousand years of life experience to tell that you genuinely regret everything you did. You do, don't you?"

Damian nodded slowly, clearly not trusting his voice enough to speak. So I finished with, "There you have it. If she comes for you, I will protect you, I promise, but in exchange… You're going to give me everything you've got. You will never slack off, you will always rise to the occasion. You will lay down your life in the name of protecting humanity against Salem." Silently, I activated a spell, Lie Detection, and asked, "Do you promise to do all of that?"

He nodded again and finally managed to speak, his voice quivering, "I… I do. I promise. I… I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I'll do everything I can to show you it wasn't misplaced. I'll die if I have to, in order to keep Vesta safe, in order to make up for what I did!" His voice had gained strength at the end.

The whisper in the back of my head told me he was telling the truth. I ended the spell and let go of him, stepping back and calling my cane to my hand, "One more thing." I raised my cane and pressed it firmly against his chest, he looked me in the eyes and I spoke firmly, "If you ever hurt Vesta. If you ever make her cry out of anything other than happiness, I will hunt you down and make you wish I killed you this day. Do you understand?"

He swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded rapidly. I smiled, "Good." I stepped away and lowered my cane, "I will leave it to you whether or not you tell her. I know you'll do the right thing in the end, and Vesta… I think she'll forgive you, in the end." I turned and started for the door, "After all…"

I looked back at him and smirked, "The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree."

Then I opened the door, walked out, and shut it.


The next day started off easily enough.

I woke up, took a shower, and got dressed in just my white shirt, dress pants, and boots. Then, I made breakfast for everyone, and then settled in on the couch to enjoy a day of relaxation.

Everyone else was out, except for Shi. Even Cinder had gone out into town to stake out some place where she could get some Vacuan coffee. I was content with just watching the news while thinking about what Shi and I could do today.

However, it seemed Shi had her own plans for what she wanted to talk about.

After a news report about the plans for an early Vytal Festival (due to the last one being interrupted before a winner could be decided) ended, Shi looked at me and asked, "Dad?" I looked at her and she continued, "Can I ask you a question?"

I nodded, "Of course, Shi. What is it?" I stopped leaning back on the couch and sat up straight, giving her my full attention.

Shi looked me dead in the eye and asked, "What's puberty?"

Silence reigned over us for a full minute as we continued to stare at each other.

Then I slapped my knee, got up, and stretched, "Welp! I think I'd better go talk to Theodore, there's some important-"

Shi stood up, "Daaad! Mom told me to ask you! If you don't tell me, who will?"

Bastard.

I took a deep breath and sat back down, "I knew you were at that age but I really wasn't expecting that." I scratched my head and looked down, "Right… Talk… Uhm… Puberty." I called upon my thousands of years of memories to try and figure out what to say…

Of course, I had some things, but every single memory I had involving a moment like this was incredibly awkward. So I supposed there was no escaping that, "Sit back down, Shi." I looked in her direction, "This… is gonna take a little while."

Oh God did it ever.

I tried my best not to mince words, Shi would be able to tell if I was trying to 'kidify' this topic for her. She never liked being talked down to, or made to feel immature, so I tried to keep it as straight and to the point as I could. However, even with my best efforts, she still had plenty of questions.

They were mostly easy to solve, questions about if certain things would really happen, how long it was going to take, and more and more. I'm not going to go into detail here, because it's unnecessary and would probably lead to a mountain of embarrassment for Shi, myself, and everyone involved if that conversation was documented.

When I was done, Shi looked well and truly traumatized. Not that I told her anything that was a lie, it's just that being told direct information about exactly what was going to happen to her likely sounded like some horrifying mutation to her. She squeaked out, "I-I'm really gonna start bleeding? Every month?"

I nodded, "...Sometime soon, actually. You're on schedule for it, over this next year, but I'll let Cinder walk you through that. It's the least she can do." Then, I stood up, "Now… How about we put this… event behind us and find something to do in town?"

I hoped that maybe we would find Cinder, so I could give her a dressing down for putting me through this. Another part of me hoped, however, that we wouldn't run into her so that I'd have more time to plan some form of revenge. I wasn't sure what form it would take, and maybe it would take days, weeks, or months to enact, but it would be enacted! I wasn't going to let this embarrassment slide!

Shi nodded several times, quick to put it behind her as well, "O-Okay. I'm gonna go put on my travel clothes." At the moment she was just wearing a dark blue T-shirt and a pair of jeans, jarringly normal for her, I was sure.

Still, given that it was Vacuo… "I'll put on the rest of my gear as well. The only people who stop crime in Vacuo are Hunters, so we need to be ready to do our part at a moment's notice."

Shi nodded dutifully and then we both headed upstairs, I went into my room (Cinder and I didn't have a bed big enough for the two of us to share a room), and slipped on the rest of my outfit, minus the coat. After I finished donning my beige cloak, armguards, gloves, and boots, I grabbed my cane and then headed back down.

Shi was there already, dressed in her usual garb and with Theta hidden on the small of her back. She followed me out and together we walked. My mind wandered as the sound of conversations filled the air.

What Damian told me… came out of nowhere. Like a damn truck. I'll admit that I was angry with him, but what would punishing him severely solve? My spell, and my intuition, told me that he meant his apology, and while I was blindsided, I couldn't afford to toss away someone just because of blind anger.

…I would be lying if I said that at least part of the reason I forgave him so easily was because of his silver eyes.

I felt like an awful person because of that, but it was true, he had power that we would need in the coming days. Throwing him out was a bad idea, even more so because he genuinely wanted to make up for what he did. I resolved that there was nothing wrong with there being a pragmatic reason mixed in with genuine emotional reasons when it came to forgiveness.

It was done now, anyway, and if Vesta was going to respond the way I thought she was, the poor boy was probably going to be in the dog house for a while. Worse than that, she'd probably be using him as target practice for months to come. Such was the rage of a girl like her, she got it from her mother, after all.

Shi took me out of my thoughts when she giggled, "Dad, you're doing it again." I raised an eyebrow and she smiled, "When you're thinking really hard you get that real weird look in your eyes, like you're looking at something that isn't there."

I did? Huh.

I smiled, "Just thinking about some business, I suppose I shouldn't be thinking about that today. Instead, we should be thinking about what we can do together, other than spar. It's been far too long since the two of us got to do something relaxing as father and daughter." I rubbed my chin and thought it over.

Shi nodded excitedly, "Yeah! Hmm…" She rubbed her chin as well, gaining a look of contemplation that I knew she'd picked up because she saw me doing it all the time, "I dunno."

That was fine, I just nodded, "We can just walk and talk then, maybe we'll come across some crimes to stop. I would like to observe you in action when it comes to things like that. I know there's no way you haven't been jumping into conflicts if you see someone in need."

Shi looked a bit sheepish, but not at all guilty as she grinned, "Y-Yeah, Dad, I have been. I even stopped some yesterday, and fought a Grimm with Uncle Qrow! It was a…" she thought for a minute and recalled the name, "A Blind Worm! It was like ten feet long!"

My eyes widened and then I relaxed slightly, "Well, Qrow was there, so I can't get mad at you for engaging. Just so long as you continue to know what your limit is in a fight like that." Then I squinted at her, "Although I know all too well that you likely only hesitated because you knew Cinder and I would be upset with you."

She laughed nervously, "Wh-What? Dad, no way. I'm very responsible." She looked away, "Yeah…" I could tell just from the look on her face that she knew she was, in fact, not very responsible at all. She knew as well as I that if Qrow hadn't been there, she might have tried to kill the thing anyway. I knew that she probably could have, but it would have worn her out a great deal.

Well, at least she's self aware!

I decided I'd change the topic, more for her sake than mine, "Cinder told me how much you trained in my absence, how hard you pushed yourself. I'm proud of how far you've come… even if you need to learn to temper yourself."

Shi returned to smiling and I could tell she was genuinely and unabashedly elated by my praise. I was careful to not give her too much, nor too little. It would be easy for her to get an inflated ego or to have nonexistent self esteem. It wasn't all in my hands, of course, the others all played a part in that, and Shi herself was the ultimate determining factor, but I did my part.

After all, it was my opinion that she seemed to hold above all others. That wasn't a super healthy thing, but something I felt she'd eventually grow out of. Children tended to have heroes, it was natural. Ruby had Summer and Qrow, Jaune had his ancestors, and Shi has me.

Not that I'd call myself a very good role model, but… if it was the ideal that she strived for, rather than striving to actually emulate me, then I figured she'd be fine.

Eventually, Shi's ear twitched and she seemed to be on high alert. She took Theta off her back and unfolded it while saying, "There's someone in trouble, sounds like a man is getting robbed. He might be getting hurt, too…"

I hummed and nodded, "Well, let's get moving then. The sooner we arrive the better."

Shi jumped onto a roof, and so I followed after her. She led the way, her speed wasn't quite up to par with mine but that would come with time, and growth, considering that she was fairly short at the moment. She was growing every day, though I had no way of telling how tall she'd actually get.

Her ears were a boon, allowing us to track down the crime in progress fairly easily. It was in one of the more remote areas of town, away from the bustling bazaars and towards one of the corners of town no innocent, or unarmed person for that matter, would ever want to go to.

The situation we arrived at was fairly textbook, looking into an alleyway we saw two men cornering another, bandits with incredibly crude scimitars trying to shake down the target for everything he had. We stood together watching it, my hands resting on my cane as I looked at Shi before nodding, "Take them down."

Shi nodded before surging forward, leaping off the edge of the building and rapidly closing in on the two men. Shi touched down and surged forward, the first one didn't even know what hit him. She jumped into the air and kicked out, her boot connected with his head and caused him to yell out in pain. He staggered to the side, bowling into his companion and falling over. The other remained standing, although not for very long.

She brought her scythe around, reeling it back before swiping out as if she were cutting wheat, instead she swept the man off his feet before he even had time to exclaim, "What the fu-" He hit the ground with a grunt of pain, and Shi finished everything off by stepping forward with her left foot, ice creeping along the ground and binding the two criminals two it while her right side ignited. Fire didn't spew off due to how restrained it was, but for a brief few moments she was literally on fire.

The person she saved looked somewhere between terrified and relieved. Even more so as I jumped off the roof and began to approach. The man was sitting on the ground, his eyes wide, and I asked, "Are you alright? I hope they didn't hurt you too terribly bad."

The man looked at me and breathed a sigh of relief, "You two are Hunters, right?" We both nodded and he smiled, "I'm alright. Thank you so much. I don't normally go to this part of town, not a lot of Hunters come out this way, you see, but… I got a bit lost."

Shi held out her hand for the man after folding her weapon and placing it on her back, which he accepted. He looked somewhat amazed, "You're the youngest Huntress I've ever seen. Thank you so much!" Then, he looked at me, "Are you…?"

I smiled, "Adoptive father, and her mentor. Apologies for using your situation as training for her, but as you can see, she's very adept." Then, I asked, "Do you need an escort back to safety? We need to deliver these two to Shade's prison, but we'll be happy to see you to the safe part of town." I looked down at the two criminals and waved my hand, the ice melted away and instead their hands were bound together by shackles of gravity. Both of them looked incredibly angry, but they both likely also knew that talking would make it worse.

The man nodded several times, "Thank you so much! You're both real heroes."

I just kept my smile as Shi and I dragged both robbers to their feet. I chuckled, "We certainly try our best."

We kept our weapons drawn as we led the criminals away, with their victim trailing behind us. While Vacuo didn't have any law enforcement, Shade did keep the equivalent to holding cells underneath its Ziggurat. Theodore handled punishments, and he was never lenient, so the look of dread the two criminals had was understandable, although I held no sympathy for them.

The citizen thanked us another dozen times before they left once we reached the populated part of the city that had more consistent Hunter patrols. Shi and I drew some looks, Shi in particular, given that she was a soon-to-be eleven year old wielding a scythe a bit larger than she was. However, the only people who approached us were licensed Hunters who wanted to know if we needed any help. Of course, we were fine, so we kept going.

We reached Shade fairly quickly, and only then did we let some of the staff take the criminals away.

I was prepared to leave with Shi so we could return to patrolling and walking, but as we were leaving the ziggurat, I heard Theodore call out to me, "Neve!" I turned to look at him, and he was holding an envelope in his hand. It was sealed by an ink heart that was gold on the edges, blue in the middle. I raised an eyebrow as I turned to face him, he stopped within arm's length and held out the envelope, "This… appeared on my desk when I wasn't looking. I have no idea how, but it's addressed to you." He shrugged, "It says it's from a… Serina?"

My eyes widened and I quickly took it from his hands. It couldn't be, could it? "Thank you, Theodore." I spoke quickly, "Do you mind maybe showing Shi some of your moves? I need to read this in private." Shi looked at me in concern and I smiled, "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

She still looked skeptical, but Theodore seemed all for the idea, "You know I love teaching the next generation how to fight, that's why I'm here after all." He grinned, "Right, Shi, come with me. I need to grab my weapons, but then I'll show you some tricks of the trade."

The two headed back inside, meanwhile I called upon the wind and had it carry me up to the top of the ziggurat. At least, as close to the top as I could get without disturbing what lay at the pinnacle. Then, I sat on edge, overlooking the city, and carefully opened the letter. All the while I was asking myself how this was possible, did Alex do this? How could my sister get a letter to me? I gingerly unfolded the letter and began to read.

'My dearly beloved brother,

Four years ago, I was given the blessing of seeing you again even after you died. Four years ago, we received your scarves, with their strange ability to warm me in the winter and cool me in the summer.

Four years ago, I started having weird thoughts. I wondered if any of it was real or not. I never truly gave up hope though, because I knew you were there, I have your scarf. Mom and Dad have trouble believing it, they agree that we saw you, but I'm not sure they fully understand it. I don't either, but I still believe.

Four years ago, I started to have very strange dreams.

Dreams of places and people I had never seen before, with you in the center of a great deal of them. I saw you fight a wyvern, I saw you caring for a little girl, and I saw you traveling continents that are so, so different from our own. Red eyed monsters of black and bone have shown up before, and some dreams I'm not sure if I saw you, or if I was just imagining things. Some, I know I didn't see you.

I've seen a girl dressed like a witch bathing a city in golden light, I've seen a sickly girl fighting a giant worm in the snow, I've seen a boy with mouse ears traveling with a woman who could turn into a genie… There was more, as well, but I won't bore you with the details. I remember everything vividly, even if they were dreams, so much so that I felt compelled to start drawing and writing in order to properly record them.

I'm not sure why, but I decided to start writing letters to you. I know you'll probably never see them, but I still want to feel like I'm talking to you. I feel like you're here, but I miss the sound of your voice, I miss your hugs, I miss you. I miss you so much. Life just isn't the same without you.

I've made some friends, like Katie, her dad owns a martial arts dojo and she's really sporty. There's Joan, who's really into baking stuff, she's super energetic and nice. I have a hard time keeping up sometimes, and I wonder if maybe that's how you felt about me, when you were around.

It's funny. You might have had trouble keeping up with my energy back when I was ten, but I think I've had the most trouble keeping up. I'm nowhere near as great as you were, I'm nowhere near living up to your legacy, I'm still chasing your shadow, in the waking and dreaming world. Maybe I just miss you too much. I'm at peace with your death, but my heart holds on. I don't think it will ever let go.

I won't ever let go, either, I hope someday I'll get to see you again.

I've been kind of rambling, huh? I'll stop writing now, but I'll write more letters, I promise. Just writing this makes me feel like I'm talking to you again, and it makes me happy. Please, Osiris, wherever you are, please be safe. Please remember that you're in my heart, now and forever.

Your dearly beloved sister,

Serina'

I had started tearing up halfway through the letter, in spite of the growing confusion and concern, her words still pushed me to tears.

She'd gotten a lot more verbose in the four years (at least, on earth) I'd been gone, I knew she probably got that from Dad. I know I did. I swallowed a lump in my throat as I folded the letter and slipped it back into the envelope, then I spoke to the wind, "Alex… Did you do this?"

In a blink, Alex was sitting next to me, yet she looked as confused as I felt, "N-No… No I didn't." He stared at the letter, "Things like that shouldn't be able to cross the worlds without the help of a spirit, but I know nobody sent this to you…" They looked at me, "I… I don't know what this means, but I'll ask around the Inbetween and see if I can find something out." Then, they smiled, "I guess, for now, just… enjoy having another memento."

I had to ask a question before she left, though, "So… four years? Time's really fast over there." It was a little concerning, the idea that she might grow up and die well before me all because of that.

Yet, Alex kept her smile, although it became gentler, "I know what you're worried about. Don't be, in fact… I think Earth is entering a period of chronological slowing. For a time, I think, time there will be lagging behind time here. I don't know how long that will last, but… a few years, at least."

Well, that was something of a relief, even if it was confusing. I nodded, "Right… thank you, Alex." I managed a smile back, "It means a lot, having you around. I don't know what'd I do without you."

Alex grinned as he wrapped me in a hug, "You'd probably have lost your mind, and I'm not just talking about the torture. Though, that is a big part of it." She leaned back as her voice gained a gentle quality to it, "After all, I'm the one who gripped you tight and raised you from perdition."

I wrapped one arm around her and squeezed them gently, "Yeah, you are. I owe you way more than one, at this point."

They chuckled, "You owe me so many drinks." Then, she let go of me, "I'd better get to investigating this letter business. I'll let you know if I find anything."

I smiled, "Sounds good to me. Goodnight, Alex."

Alex gave a two finger salute before saying, "Night, Neve." then poofing into blue smoke, disappearing.

Left alone, I looked at the envelope and sighed, wiping my eyes of errant tears before I slipped it into my pocket. I made sure to cast a spell on it to make sure it wouldn't be crumpled up or destroyed while I was moving around. Then, I pushed off the edge of the ziggurat and let myself fall from my position high above the ground. Before I made contact, I used wind magic to slow my descent and landed gently right back where I was before I took off, then I unclipped my cane from my side, extended it out, and began walking inside to see what Theodore and Shi were up to.

Sure enough, Theodore was teaching Shi some of his fist-fighting techniques, which I felt was a smart thing to do. She had been getting taught the basics on fist-fighting already, but the only person who was able to teach her anything of substance was Yang, who had arrived a lot later than the others and wasn't really the teaching type. Having Theodore mentoring her in that regard would serve her well in the future, should she ever need to fight without her weapon.

When they saw me approaching, Theodore let Shi take a break so she could come over and ask, "What was that about, Dad? Who's… Serina?"

I smiled at her then knelt down before I pulled her into a hug, "Don't worry, Shi. Serina is just… someone who's very important to me. My sister."

Shi seemed surprised and as she hugged me back she said, "I didn't know you have a sister! I hope I can meet her someday."

I didn't say anything at first. Of course I knew the two would never meet, worlds apart as they were. Still, I said, "Maybe someday, Shi."

"Maybe someday."


The days passed fairly unremarkably after that.

Of course, the letter was still in my mind, and I found myself thinking about it fairly often. I knew that there really was nothing I could do about it, though, so I tried not to let it bother me too much, as difficult as that was. Instead, I focused on helping Shade prepare for the inevitable.

We set in motion projects to get the walls and gates reinforced, and after a small detachment of engineers arrived from Atlas, we started preparing turrets and hard-light barriers. The citizenry had questions, but Theodore told them that the recent spike in Grimm activity made him feel like Vacuo needed stronger defenses, should any large number of Grimm decide to attack the city. His words made the citizenry feel more at ease, safer, and that was the best outcome I could have hoped for.

The day of Shi's birthday came, and the day started off subdued enough. Preparations for the celebration had been underway for awhile, Glynda had arrived late the night before (although I hadn't seen her yet), and with that the only thing that was left was to make sure Shi had a good birthday. I made her whatever she wanted for breakfast (chocolate waffles, simple enough all things considered), and then we all headed towards Shade.

We drew some eyes, which was understandable. Two teams of Hunters plus four more moving together was rare, the citizenry no doubt wondered what we were up to. However, I was sure none of them anticipated that we were going to a party, let alone one held in our honor (with Shi being the most honored, of course).

Shade, in spite of its utilitarian nature, did have a place for ceremonies and celebrations. A dance hall not too dissimilar to the one Beacon had its dance in, which brought back memories, good and bad, old and new. There were decorations, a banner that read 'Congratulations, Hunters!' not least among them. The hall was entirely ours for the day, although before we could kick off the actual 'celebration' part, we had to go through the ceremony of getting our licenses.

Our teams plus Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury stood on the stage while Shi watched everything happen from the sidelines. Glynda was there, and seeing her stirred up strange, strange feelings deep within my heart. Yet, I was able to repress them, they were feelings that a different man harbored, not me.

Still, it was bittersweet, seeing her again.

She held a scroll tablet in her hands as she greeted all of us, "Once, I called most of you my students. Now, it's clear that you've exceeded all expectations. When you came to Beacon a short two years ago, I could never have imagined what you would be capable of. That being said, there's nothing left Beacon could teach you, you've proven yourselves far more than mere students."

Glynda began walking down the line, starting on the left side with Emerald, with me being on the other end. She started changing licenses, "Each of you has earned this." She started going down the line, elevating everyone with a tap of her finger on a screen, "And I have no doubt in my mind, not one worry, that you will do anything but protect humanity with everything you have."

Finally, she stopped at me, her smile grew slightly strained, "And the world will remember your names for generations to come." Then, she changed my permissions, and just like that I became an official Huntsman.

Following that we all fanned out over the dance hall, some music was playing to help the place feel more alive. I shared a hug with Shi and told her, "Your cake and presents will be brought in after a couple slow songs. For now, I have to talk with Glynda." Shi seemed happy one way or the other, so she just nodded and went to spend some time with Cinder, who was looking at me with a strange mixture of happiness and curiosity. I told her what I was doing, so there was nothing to worry about.

I just smiled at her before turning my attention to Glynda, who was standing off to the side watching the festivities, Vesta was standing with her and they seemed to be talking about something. Yet, as they spotted me looking at them, Vesta waved me over with a smile. I started over, my cane tapping against the tiled floor as I walked, having just opted to wear my huntsman gear for this occasion, with the coat this time as well. Although keeping it from overheating me was a small drain on my magic while I was wearing it, it was nothing that I would have to worry about.

As I drew closer, I could see a tumult of emotions hidden in Glynda's even gaze. She was good at hiding her emotions, but she was never able to hide them from me. Vesta stepped away from her to go share a dance with Damian, who still looked incredibly guilty, understandably enough. I came to a stop next to Glynda, turning and watching the festivities with her, collapsing my cane and sticking it to my side under my coat before speaking softly, "Glynda."

Glynda didn't look at me, her arms were crossed under her chest as she stared out at everyone else, she was wearing her usual outfit, "Mister Cade- Ah- Oz- Grr…" She closed her eyes and looked away, her voice softening, "Neve. Vesta told me about… how the fusion went."

I smiled softly as I closed my eyes and looked down for a moment, "Then I don't need to explain anything to you." Then I opened my eyes and looked back up, watching as my comrades shared dances or just talked with each other, "I know it must be difficult, it's… not easy for me, either."

She chuckled, but there was no mirth, instead she was trying to make light of it, "Why would it be difficult for me? I'm not the one who had to deal with the fusion."

I shook my head and sighed softly, "Let's not pretend, Glynda." I looked in her direction, my voice was gentle and laden with sadness, "You know what I'm talking about. You know what's difficult. For both of us."

The pained expression on her face said it all, "F-Fine." Her voice broke up with sadness, "Yes. It destroyed me when Ozpin died, and it destroyed me more to hear what happened. I should be celebrating that you didn't get overwritten, Neve, you're one of the best of us, but… I'm just…" She uncrossed her arms, instead placing one hand over her head as she sighed softly, "I think about him every night, and when I think of you, it's… confusing. You're my student, but… You're also him. You're Vesta's father. You… You were my husband. I… I know it's selfish. I'm sorry."

I knew what she was feeling, and it was a strange, strange beast. She continued, "I knew that if Ozpin died, he would be reincarnated, but… I never expected that it would be his last incarnation. It's awful to say, but… I had hoped that once his fusion was complete, we might have been able to.. Have some form of normal again." She laughed sadly, "Foolish of me, I know. I'm an awful person, aren't I?"

That was an easy question to answer. I shook my head and turned completely towards her, "No, you're not." my voice was still soft, but it had an added firmness to it, "Everyone deserves to be selfish sometimes, and your circumstances are far from normal. You love Ozpin, and now… he's part of me." I looked away, "I… I still feel it, too. In the back of my mind, tugging on some of my heartstrings. I know it's the part of me that's him, and it hurts, Glynda. He… He loved you and Vesta more than the world itself, I told her much the same. It was… it is… difficult to reconcile how he felt with how I feel."

Then I looked back at her, "At the end of the day, I know you're my professor, you're… a good friend, but I can't be him. I can't… love you like him." I reached out and placed my hand on her arm, causing her to finally meet my gaze. She was much taller than me, I noticed, "But that doesn't mean I want to forget it all. That doesn't mean I'm blind to what you feel. If I could be half of what you think of me, I could do about anything. I really would be the hero that Shi thinks I am, the hero that Vesta thought I was."

She was borderline in tears, and it would have been jarring to see the normally stoic Glynda in tears had I not remembered times she'd cried before, for happy and sad reasons. Like when Ozpin, when I, proposed to her, and on our wedding day, on the day Vesta was born, so many memories played out in my mind, "Glynda…" For a moment, for the first time since the fusion completed, I felt that I was speaking from a different place. I was not speaking as Neve Cadere, but as Lucian Ozpin, "My dearest buttercup, sweet and strong… I know you'll get through this."

Tears were streaming down her face, and I knew I was no better. I softly asked, "Do you remember the dance Beacon had when we were first years?" She nodded, sniffling as she did, and I smiled, "You were so shy back then, you bloomed so beautifully, right alongside me. Right before my eyes. Would you…" I took my hand off her arm and held it out to her, "Like to share one last dance?"

She nodded, her voice was shaking as she responded, "Y-Yes…" She placed her hand in mine, "More than anything… Does Cinder not mind? I know… she's with you."

I nodded, "I spoke to her about all of this last night… Jealous she may be, at times, but she understands how you feel. I think she worries that she may be in your position, one day." I closed my hand around hers as a slow song came on and gently led her towards the dance floor.

The others were slow dancing as well, with Cinder even dancing with Shi, trying to teach her how to do it. When we came to a stop, I wrapped one arm around her waist while keeping my other hand in hers, she placed her hands on my shoulder and we began to dance. I still felt I was speaking from the part of my soul that was him when I said softly, "I apologize that this is… less than ideal. I had hoped to be able to share one last conversation with you before… everything."

Glynda managed a pained smile, "It's okay. It is strange, but… I don't mind. I feel… young again. Like we really are just first years again. Do you… remember when Grayson asked out Qrow?"

I chuckled, "Vividly. I was even more surprised when he agreed, although we all knew Qrow didn't like men. I think Grayson just wanted to see what it would have been like. Poor man." Then, I smiled, "Remember when Tai asked out Raven?" Mentioning the now dead woman was a bit strange, but she made her choice. That didn't mean I couldn't remember when she was different.

She giggled, "Which time? The first or the seventh? At least he had the decency to stop when she told him to. She told me once that she liked the attention, but…"

I finished her thought, "She was afraid. We didn't know at the time, but… her being a Branwen no doubt made her fear what would happen. Remember Qrow and Summer?"

Glynda chuckled, "The poor girl had no idea what she was doing. She and Qrow were cute together, it's a shame how things played out there, but… I think they both knew it wouldn't last. Qrow wasn't going to let his semblance get in the way of her happiness."

I took a moment and dipped her in my arms, causing her to gasp in surprise before I pulled her back up and we continued. I smiled, "We were the most stable out of all of them, and even you had trouble trying to ask me out. I was so dense back then… I still remember when you wrote out a whole-"

Her face tinged red as she looked away, "A-A whole speech, yes. I couldn't forget that even if I wanted to. It worked, though, didn't it?" I nodded and she looked back at me, "I didn't even get to use the whole thing. You stopped me halfway through." She smiled, "For the best, I think."

We fell into silence after that, simply sharing the moment. I knew Glynda was trying to work out her emotions, and honestly I kind of was too. I thought I had it all sorted, but I suppose that I still had to get my affairs in order with her. As the song started to draw to a close, I knew there was one last thing I had to say to her, and the weak smile on her face told me she had something to say too.

I leaned up and kissed her cheek and softly said, "It was a joy to share the life that I did with you, Glynda. I'll never forget it. Don't be afraid… you're an amazing woman, you will get through this stronger than ever."

She closed her eyes for a moment before nodding and opening them again, eyes glistening with tears, "I-I know I will. Thank you. I… I love you, Lucian." She took a ragged breath and whispered in a hushed, strained tone, "Goodbye."

For the final time, I felt as if I was speaking as someone other than myself as I whispered back, "I love you too, Glynda." I knew, now, that there was only one thing I could say. Against everything I believed, I knew that it was the only fitting end, because there was nothing after this for her and Lucian. It ended here. My voice was gentle and quiet as I said, "Goodbye, my buttercup."

Then, the song came to an end. We stepped away, our hands staying together for a few more moments until we let go. She turned and walked in one direction, I turned and walked in another.

Our paths were never to cross in that manner again, not like that. It was over.

Lucian had said his final words.

I approached Cinder and Shi, offering my hand to Cinder, I smiled at the two of them. She took my hand while Shi just looked on with a contented expression on her face. I walked with Cinder to the middle and, much like with Glynda, I put one arm around her waist while my other hand held hers. She draped her arms on my shoulders, resting both her hands on my upper back. Then, she softly asked, "So… how'd it go?" Her amber eyes danced with a mixture of concern and hope.

I eased her mind with a smile, "It's settled. We said our goodbyes, and now I can leave that part of me well and truly in the past." I decided to change the topic, "Isn't this ironic? We finally get to share a dance, so long after that night."

Cinder leaned forward and stole a kiss, "Yes… after my foolishness. We've been through a lot since then, haven't we?"

I chuckled, "That's an understatement. We aren't the same people we used to be, in more ways than one." I stole a kiss of my own, "Is that cake we had made almost ready to be brought in? And the gifts?" We had, of course, had a cake prepared, along with getting gifts. They were very different from the gifts we'd given her on her last birthday, but then again she was a very different girl now, compared to who she was before.

She nodded, "Everything's ready. Once this song is over, we'll start her party." She rolled her eyes, "The others insisted that once that happens we stick to faster music for the rest of the night. They don't appreciate a good slow song, not in the slightest."

I smiled and spoke softly, "Now, Cinder. We have to remember that it's for Shi. I don't think she's at the age where she'd find slow dances and formal balls entertaining. Maybe she never will." I shrugged, "It's the least we can do to make sure it's an entertaining night for her."

Cinder sighed, "I know, I know." Then she smiled, "I suppose we need to make the most of it. I don't think we'll have another moment like this for a long time to come now."

I nodded in agreement, "Certainly not… At least not until after we see to it that Vacuo is safe, and after that we'll need to link up with Atlas. I have no doubt that Peregrine and our comrades are handling most of the business there, but… we will still have to deal with Orchid and her crew. Provided she survives this attack, which, given how slippery she is… I wouldn't put it past her. All we can do is prepare ourselves."

After that, the rest of our dance was uneventful. Sure enough, when that song finished, the cake was being brought in and so were the gifts. Theodore was carrying the cake, and he placed it on a long serving table with a smile, a party hat affixed to his head, "Here it is! I made sure the staff didn't skimp out on anything."

Meanwhile, Rumpole and Aurum were carrying in the gifts, with Aurum smiling as she said, "You guys certainly know how to throw a party. I guess this is a super special occasion, for more reasons than one."

Everyone gathered around the cake as Cinder lit the candles with a careful application of her semblance. Then, after the mandatory awkwardness she had to suffer from being the subject of everyone singing 'Happy Birthday', she blew out the candles and, after opening her presents (many related to her dream of being a Huntress, others more sentimental, like the golden bracelet I bought her) the party began in earnest.

The music picked up, and everyone began to have fun. There may not have been any bouncy castles, nor any face painting, but Shi seemed happy nonetheless. Although I noticed that she didn't seem too eager to get dancing herself, instead she was playing with her bracelet while watching everyone else. She was standing next to the serving table, I had been standing off to the side as well, but further away. I started towards her, Cinder not far behind, and when we arrived I said, "Sorry this couldn't be more entertaining, Shi."

Shi shook her head, "Don't worry about it, Dad." She smiled, "I'm… not exactly interested in stuff like face painting anymore." Then, she looked down, "I don't really know what I'm interested in these days. Other than being a Huntress and being with you guys. I… don't know what kids my age are supposed to really like. I never did, I liked the stuff my parents would do for me, but actual other kids?" She shook her head, "I wasn't good with talking to them. Now… I don't know if I'd have anything to say to them."

That was an unfortunate truth. Her parents had mentioned her having trouble making friends even when she was a 'normal' girl, now that she was living this life, fighting these fights, I had no doubt that she'd have trouble making friends her age. Signal might provide her with the opportunity to meet other like-minded people, but the odds of someone sharing anything comparable to what she's been through, what she will be through, is small.

There's a lot that I can and will do for Shi, but helping her in that department was one thing I couldn't. Social endeavors like that were one thing, social matters for someone like her? Something else entirely. Still, I smiled, "Well, I'm sure once all of this is over you'll find your way. Not everyone needs a ton of friends, and there's no need to rush. There'll be plenty of time to figure all of that out once our job is finished."

Cinder watched all of this without saying anything at first. Then, eventually, she said, "I… didn't have friends when I was your age, your circumstances are very different from mine, but I can sympathize. I know you'll find your way through it, there's no doubt in my mind."

Shi's smile remained as she looked at us, although it seemed a bit brighter now, "Thanks, guys. Uhm… Mom? Can I talk to just Dad for a few minutes?"

Cinder and I shared a look before she nodded and stepped away to go mingle with the others. Already, Violet was trying to drag her onto the dance floor and Cinder was trying her absolute hardest to not give in. I smiled at their shenanigans before I looked back at Shi, "Here, or?"

Shi gestured for me to follow and we stepped out onto the dance hall's balcony. Then, we shut the glass doors behind us and I asked, "What's on your mind, Shi?"

She looked out at the sky, and asked, "Did you… lose your family, Dad? You've never talked about them before, and you seemed super surprised when you got that letter. Are they… gone?"

The question was surprising, but I suppose I should have expected it. Not once did I ever mention my family, and she knew that Cinder had been an orphan. The mere confirmation that I had a sister must have stirred her to ask about mine. I leaned on the railing and looked at the sky as well, "Well… in a manner of speaking we lost each other. We can never see each other again, it's… complicated. I'm from somewhere far, far away, somewhere I'll never be able to go back to. I guess, in a way… you could say I died there."

Shi obviously didn't fully understand, but she didn't push. Instead she leaned on the railing next to me and asked, "How did you do it, then? If… what happened is basically dying, how… how am I supposed to deal with this?" She closed her eyes, "Mama's birthday was a few days ago and it made me think about how much I miss her and Papa. How much I wish we could just go back to what we were doing before, where you and Mom were training me while Mama and Papa were there to watch. I… I don't…" She took a deep breath, "I don't think I'm strong enough for this. For any of this."

I closed my eyes and nodded before reaching out and pulled her closer with one arm, "You are strong enough, Shi, but… I understand what you're saying." I laughed sorrowfully, "Truthfully I still have trouble when I think about my family. Pain like that never completely leaves, you just learn to manage it better. You take it one day at a time and you keep going. To tell you the truth…"

I let go of her and then turned towards her, she did the same for me and I placed my hands on her shoulders, "When all of this started I didn't want anything to do with it. Being a Huntsman, fighting the fights that I have, that I will, being… who I am now. I didn't want any of it." I smiled a soft and sad smile, "But I had to, and I pushed on regardless, because sometimes in life you choose what happens to you, other times… life chooses for you. I…I was afraid, and I still am. I'm just better at keeping it under control now. In that way… you're far braver and stronger than I am."

Before Shi could protest, I explained, "I have so much that helps me. I have magic, I have all of Ozpin's experiences, I have abilities beyond what a normal person should have. Yet… you don't. You're a normal girl, and while you have a strong semblance, your training and your demeanor… that's your doing. All I did was try to be there to support you whenever you needed me. Even before you had all of this training, when you were just starting out, you were willing to fight a Beowolf just to help me. Then you fought a wyvern just to help me."

Shi looked away, "I… I should have been stronger. Maybe then Mama and Papa would still be here. I… I couldn't save them. You say it's your fault, but it's not."

I shook my head and knelt down so I could look her in the eyes better, "Shi… it's not your fault. You had no control over what happened… I did. So… you shouldn't blame yourself."

She shook her head, "I-If it's not my fault, then it can't be yours either!" She looked me in the eyes, "You've done nothing but help me, meeting you is the best thing to ever happen to me, Dad… I wouldn't replace you for anything. I miss Mama and Papa, but… if someone asked me to trade you for them, I… couldn't do it." My eyes widened, I saw how serious she was, "They're gone, but they're still with me in my heart! If I didn't have you… I couldn't have made it this far. You chased away the monsters, and… it's your shadow that I chase, 'cause I know you're a real hero, I wanna be like you one day."

The wording she used struck a chord in my heart and I pulled her into a hug, closing my eyes, "Shi…" I took a shaky breath, "Something… Something you need to understand is that you've helped me too. When I was at my lowest point, you gave me a reason to keep going. Then when I was captured, thinking of you and Cinder gave me the strength to carry on. I swore that I'd keep you safe. I swore to protect and love you with everything I have… and I will. I always will. You've helped me as much as I've helped you, and you are so, so brave. So strong. You could have given up or broken down by now and nobody would have blamed you, but you haven't. You're fighting for the future, and I'm so very proud of you for that."

I finished with, "You might feel like you're weak, that being afraid and unsure makes you a coward, but… everyone feels things like that. Ask anyone in that room right now and they will tell you the same. The true mark of bravery is to keep going in spite of that." Then I pulled back slightly to look into her eyes again, those black irises that no light escapes from, "If… If I was given the choice right now to go back to where I'm from, or to stay here… I would always stay here, because my home is with you and Cinder now. You… you are the most important thing in the world to me, Shi. I'll always be there for you… my brave little soldier girl." I smiled, "I heard you singing that song at home the other day… and I know one day we'll march home together, just as we'll win this fight together."

Shi's eyes were glistening with tears as she jumped at me and pulled me into another hug, clinging onto me and causing me to laugh as I struggled to stand back up. Luckily, I managed. Shi whispered, "I love you, Dad. You're the most important person to me too."

I hugged her and whispered back, "I love you too, Shi."

We held each other for a few moments, and then eventually we separated and I asked, "Ready to go back in?" I smiled at her, "There's lots of cake to eat." Shi giggled and nodded, taking my hand without uttering a word. So together we walked back into the building, and together we shut the door behind us. Shi might have said she was chasing my shadow, but…

I think her own is growing long enough to rival mine.