A/N: Hello all! Sorry for the late upload, I've recently been taking over a metric f*** ton of shifts at the hospital lately. Leaves little energy for writing, but plenty of time to think of the plot!

That said, expect the next post to happen on the 16th, and then the 23rd after that.

If the chapter seems rushed, it kind of was. If I don't get any complaints about it, my intention is to leave it as is and come back at a far later date to fix it up.

As a side note, I know I can write Urianger in short amounts, but I for the life of me will not be able to do so for a large paragraph. I'll do my best once the time comes, but I very noticeably avoided doing so here and I apologize. It's one of the things I intend on fixing upon revisiting the chapter.

Bonus points for people who can spot the Wheel of Time reference.

Thank you guys for reading, and without further adieu, here's the next chapter!

Chai-Nuzz blinked in disbelief at Alphinaud.

"You want what? I don't think you know quite what you're asking!"

The Scion smiled at the Miqo'te, pulling out a rolled piece of parchment. He went to a nearby desk and laid it out, drawing in the Eulmoran's attention.

"But I do! An acquaintance of mine insists that you should be fully capable of setting up a Talos like this to grab on to Vauthry's retreat. But this isn't for me, Chai."

Dulia-Chai made her way over to them and looked at the parchment as well.

"If not for you, then who is it for?" Chai-Nuzz asked.

"It's for Aran. The Warrior of Darkness. The Talos doesn't need to stay up permanently, it just needs to be stable enough for my group to get up to Vauthry. By killing him, we can find and save Aran."

"B-b-but I can't do this! The sheer scope of this is… massive! It would take years!"

Dulia-Chai grabbed her husband's hand and smiled.

"Oh, but you can get it done, dear! I know you can! And it's for Alphie and Aran."

The man took a deep breath in an attempt to reign in his hopelessness. His wife was right; if this was for Alphinaud and the Warrior of Darkness, then he should be happy to help after all they've done for them.

"F-fine. But whoever drew up these blueprints, while they know how a Talos is built, isn't taking into account the size of the construct. We'll need to make some edits here and there…"

Thancred worked alongside Runar as they planted seeds just outside Slitherbough. They had been working in amiable silence for nearly an hour, until Runar finally spoke.

"I cannot speak for all of the Night's Blessed on this, and certainly not about the Viis, but I do know of some who would help with this undertaking. For Master Matoya, and for the Warrior of Darkness."

Thancred nodded as he began patting down the earth around a seed.

"Ah, fantastic. There's something else I've been meaning to bring up with you as well, but have so far been unable to find a way to speak it without hurting you. Master Matoya and the Warrior are…"

"They are together, yes? There is no need to fear upsetting me. I knew the moment that Master Matoya heard the Warrior's voice that they shared something beyond a close friendship. I am happy that she has finally returned to her, what were the words… Light of her heart? I possess no ill will towards either of them."

Thancred released a breath, then frowned.

"Wait, she harbored those feelings through these years as well?"

Runar chuckled as he rose from his knees.

"Quite so. At the time, I thought she had meant it as a metaphor. Now, I see she meant it quite literally. Come with me. If the plans you have shown me are correct, then you will need something special to make this Talos work."

Thancred did as he was asked, wondering how he had seen none of the signs of Y'Shtola's enamoration with Aran.

Urianger approached Titania confidently in the throne room, opening his mouth to speak. His prepared oration was halted when the Fae held up a hand.

"Speak not your request. My adorable sapling is missing, absent, gone! I cannot feel her, but she is not dead. Even a corpse could be felt. She has disappeared, and you would find my sapling. The Fae shall answer your call when needed, once you have constructed your means of passage."

Urianger bowed, pleasantly surprised and yet befuddled by Titania's devotion to Aran.

Alisaie waited on the elevator to Top Rung, glancing behind her to look upon the caregivers and patients of Journey's Head. All of them had volunteered to come, even the patients who had only met Aran a handful of times. Beyond even them, there were others who hadn't even met her, rallying instead around the stories told by those that had.

It was a sight that caused a tear to run down her cheek to be wiped away with a pass of her thumb. Below on Bottom Rung, even more people waited to make the ride to Top Rung and be assigned stations. It astonished her upon her return to Kholusia to find it brimming with life, finding numerous familiar faces and even more that weren't.

The Crystal Exarch stood next to her, having witnessed her tear of hope.

"To see nearly everyone in the First coming together like this… quite frankly, I had never thought it might happen." The hooded man stated, his own joy breaking through in his voice.

"Yes. This is the effect Aran has on people. She brings us all together, in an amalgamation of cultures and experiences and stature that under any other circumstances, would never happen."

The hooded Miqo'te smiled as The Ladder ground to a halt. Before Alisaie could step away, he placed his crystalline hand on her shoulder.

"Quite so. But there is something I must tell you. All of the Scions, really. Could you pass on the word for all of us to meet up tonight after dinner?"

The female twin nodded as people began to pass them and walk into Top Rung.

"Ah, before I forget. How are the Crystarium patrols holding up?"

The Exarch released her shoulder as he looked up at Mount Gulg.

"We're stretched thin. Lyna is doing what she can in keeping who we can safe from sin eaters, but there are simply too many people here, even with the Eulmorans providing the backbone of encampment garrisons. Vauthry's been probing our defenses, but we will be found wanting should he send a concentrated assault. Put simply, we need more hands holding weapons."

Alisaie nodded to herself, beginning to walk towards the center of Top Rung. The Exarch followed, watching her closely as her face seemed to light up.

"Of course! Almet's Viis are primarily being used as scouts, but what if we pull some back and combine our forces? Right now, everyone is covering a specific role, yet it's leading to Vauthry slowly taking out our scouts, patrols, and garrisons. What if we combine our units? It may slow the scouts, but it will increase their effectiveness as a whole in regards to defending themselves from an ambush and raiding parties."

The Exarch nodded thoughtfully.

"You claim that Alphinaud is the strategist between the two of you, but not many would have considered a literal combination of our forces like this. It's a great idea, but we still have the problem of finding more hands that can swing a sword or cast magick."

"I may have the answer," came a familiar voice off to their right.

The Exarch and Alisaie looked over to see Urianger approaching them, with an orange Fae floating above his left shoulder. Feo Ul seemed to bob excitedly as she left his shoulder and bobbed around them.

"An answer to your conundrum, do you seek? I have the answer, if it helps my adorable sapling! We would join your patrols! And provide more picks for the hewing of stone!"

"What did you wish to discuss, Exarch?" Alphinaud asked.

The Scions found themselves in a large tent, crowded by tables piled with maps and other logistics.

"Ah, yes. I'm afraid I haven't been entirely honest with you…" the Miqo'te began, reaching up to his hood. He pulled it down slowly, revealing a face that several of them recalled.

"G'raha Tia!" Alphinaud stated in surprise.

"Indeed, though not the one you know. I come from a future of the Source where the First's Rejoining, the Eighth Umbral Calamity, had come to pass. Urianger's vision, was in fact my own history."

And so the man revealed the truth. When all was said, he was faced with an understanding of the Scions he could not comprehend. While there was tension in the air, he was glad to say that he retained their friendship and trust.

"We will not bleed the First of the few souls left within it," Thancred stated vehemently to the gathered leaders. They stood within the Exarch's tent, debating on how to reach Mount Gulg with the aid of the Talos. "This is our fight, and these people have done enough."

Runar crossed his arms, while Feo Ul turned her head and sniffed. Across the room, the leaders of the First did similar acts to show their displeasure. It was Almet who put her hand forward and glared at the Scions before she spoke.

"This is not your choice to make. We are all here to save the Warrior of Darkness, to save Aran. We will choose where and when we bleed. Remember that. If we can draw off a good number of sin eaters in order to aid in this goal, then we shall do so!"

Lyna grinned beside her, nodding to the words before she too spoke.

"She is our hope. Without hope, none of us will survive. Let us do our part in ensuring that hope survives."

Thancred grumbled to himself while Alphinaud glanced at Urianger. Their eyes met and exchanged a conversation only they understood in an instant. The male twin placed his hands on the table.

"Full glad are we to have your support, but I do not think we will be needing to fight an elongated siege. See here?" He began pointing to the map on the table. "The dwarves found a large number of those automata in those ruins, did they not?" The last was directed towards two dwarves, Anogg and Konogg.

The twin dwarves nodded, though they crossed their arms.

"Why should we put our spoils forward towards this goal of yours?" Konogg asked, only for the chieftain of Komra to smack the back of his head.

"Because I said so! They are not your property, but that of the village! And I say we're using them."

The dwarven twins sulked as they nodded in acceptance.

"Thank you." Alphinaud said with a small bow of his head. "Now then, using those automata to fill out ranks, we could draw Vauthry's sin eaters away from where the Talos will connect to his fortress. It will make the path for us much safer, while also putting less lives at risk. Though, they will likely turn back when he realizes that we're scaling the Talos' arm."

Feo Ul giggled.

"Have no worries with their returning, you adorable little creature! The Fae shall befuddle them and their senses of direction. If it's for my precious sapling, then all the magicks available to us shall be at your disposal. Once they've come down, we'll create a magickal mist not unlike that which had yourself walking in circles within Il Mheg! No, we can make it even worse! I will not stand for such horrid creatures standing between me and my sapling!"

Alphinaud nodded, then began discussing the more occult logistics behind the plan.

"Alisaie, now!" Thancred shouted as he pulled a wrapped bundle from his coat. He tossed it into the center of a group of sin eaters and watched as the girl cast Jolt on it, causing them to be engulfed in fire. The smell of burning flesh assailed their noses for a brief moment, then ceased as the bodies of the sin eaters were reduced to ashes within seconds.

A shadow passed over the Scions and G'raha Tia as they ascended the Talos' arm, causing them to look up. As one, they dashed further up the arm in order to avoid a large boulder that nearly severed the arm.

The group checked themselves over, then began ascending once more.

None noticed when G'raha Tia stumbled, falling to his knees as the time away from the Tower became noticeable. He struggled to his feet with his staff whilst doing his best to ignore the weakness within his limbs.

He would have to conserve his mana if he was going to do as he planned.

They were surrounded by sin eaters, listening to Vauthry's diatribe. In the center of their circle knelt the Exarch, who was attempting to stand once more with little success.

Vauthry's speech was cut short when a hail of fire and ice began to destroy his sin eaters, causing the Lightwarden to look around in confusion.

"What?! WHO DARES?!"

A snap resonated around them all before Emet-Selch's voice was heard.

"Oh, do be quiet."

A second snap sounded, leading to Vauthry screaming in pain. When the Scions looked to the former ruler of Eulmore, they found the creature pierced through by a curved spire of earth, raising him several feet off the ground diagonally.

Emet-Selch appeared on the spire, standing just behind Vauthry's head. In his hands rested a curved, single edged blade made of crystal.

"The one who would deliver the final blow and take his Light needs to come up here and strike him down with this blade. Quickly now, we haven't much time."

Hand clasped with Qrow's, Aran quickly thought of a response while the bartender balked at the sudden tension in the room.

"Indeed. My name doesn't follow the usual Post-War naming scheme."

The habitual drunk nodded as he released her hand, though his eyes showed that it was quite clear any alcohol clouding his mind had been wiped clear from it at the mention of her name.

"I suppose not, if you're one of the Erzans. Guess that would explain the exotic accent then, eh?"

"My accent is not a sign of an Erzan, but of my people. But you sound as if this is not the first time you've come across my name?"

Qrow released her hand.

"Not quite. Ruby's told me a bit about you and your team, as well as the training you put yourself and a couple other teams through. You run your people harder than Atlas military does, and that's saying something."

The Warrior gave a cautious chuckle as she moved to stand. In so doing, she cursed as she knocked her glass off the countertop, but managed to catch it before it hit the ground. After placing it back on the counter, she waved at the bartender who had turned to see what her curse was about.

"My apologies, I don't think the glass is damaged."

Ruby's uncle stood as well, though with less fanfare before he rubbed the back of his head.

"I wouldn't worry about it, it wasn't your fault. Good reflexes though, kid."

Kid? Aran thought to herself dryly. Better than old, I suppose.

"If you say so. I'm returning to Beacon."

"Hold on, I wanted to ask you something before you left. Actually, it only came up last night within Vale's information network, and Ozpin passed it on to me."

"Proceed with your inquiry."

Qrow crossed his arms and looked out the window for a moment, gathering his thoughts on how to word his question. After a moment, he glanced at the bartender who had returned to his duties.

"Would you happen to have somewhere private where we won't be overheard? Preferably away from Beacon."

Aran rolled her eyes and nodded.

"I trust you won't mind a bit of a walk?"

They left the bar and made their way towards Junior's club, something that made Qrow chuckle.

"Looks a bit different than I remember it being."

"Blame Yang."

The Huntsman shook his head as they entered, the Malachite twins giving Aran a nod before glaring at Qrow. The Warrior ignored the spark of curiosity as she showed the man to the booth she had used with Junior before.

"Now, what is it?"

"I know Ozpin has told you about the Maidens, and fairy tales being true in general. What you discuss with me here will not be reported back to the man."

Aran nodded, tapping a finger on the table repeatedly to hurry him along.

"Uh… great. So, Oz thinks your friend is Summer. The Maiden, not Ruby's mom."

"Never knew her name was Summer in the first place."

Qrow shook his head.

"Right. Well, Oz doesn't get ideas like that for no reason. Why does he think your friend is our girl?"

"He is under this impression because she can use magick. But I can as well, and our friend could learn if she displayed the interest. We are not your Maidens, no matter what he thinks."

Qrow frowned as he mulled over the information given to him.

"Well… you girls wouldn't happen to have come across a woman that looks like an older Ruby, in her late thirties perhaps, and wearing a white cloak?"

"I would assume this description fits Summer Rose?" Aran asked, then her eyes narrowed. "She's not the Summer Maiden, is she?"

Qrow's eyes widened as he waved his hands frantically.

"No, nonono, no, nothing like that. And er, she's dead, or so we think. She took on a mission for Oz without telling anyone what it was, and never returned. That was years ago, and it's very likely that she is dead. But I won't stop looking for her, not until I either find her corpse or hear her telling me and Tai to stop drinking so late."

The woman sighed and leaned forward.

"Look Qrow, there's more going on than you think-"

"Oz told you about Salem already?"

Aran's eyebrow rose at his interruption, though she did take note of the name he mentioned.

"No, he didn't. Now shut up and let me finish. I haven't seen a woman like the one you have described, at least not… here. But that doesn't mean much, if you'll recall where we hail from. There is more going on here than you realize, and Ozpin has landed himself squarely on my shit list. I'm letting you know this much because Ozpin already knows where he stands with me and my companions."

Qrow nodded, signaling Aran to continue.

"Now then, your topic started with the Maidens and shifted to Summer, which means there must be some sort of connection between the two."

Once more, Qrow nodded.

"Yeah. The Summer Maiden and Summer herself were good friends, and acted sort of like guardians for one another. As you've already guessed, we were all confidantes of Ozpin until Summer disappeared and the Maiden went… I won't say rogue, since she's not nearly as bad as my sister, but she stopped working with us."

Aran leaned back, cocking her head slightly.

"And what would you all be working towards?"

"Defending the Kingdoms from Grimm."

"And how does this 'Salem' fit into the picture?"

"I was hoping you missed that," Qrow muttered as he looked up into her eyes. Almost immediately, he regretted his decision to do so as he recognized the same glint in her eye that Ozpin had when he schemed. Unlike his, which merely seemed calculating, Aran's seemed to peer into his very soul.

"You will find that I can hear quite well, thank you."

"Right. Extra large ears and all, kinda hard not to I would imagine." The man cleared his throat. "I can't tell you more about her without Ozpin's say so. There are lines I won't cross, at least not now. But there is a group of people working towards protecting the Kingdoms from the Grimm, and the Maidens have traditionally been a part of this group. Like I said, I don't know what happened with the Summer Maiden, but she split from the group the same night Summer set out for her mission. She still gives us messages to let us know that she's safe, but she refuses to speak to anyone affiliated with Ozpin. Or at least we think it's her. Now, Ozpin's not too sure, what with your friend's abilities."

"It sounds like you're about to ask me to meet with her."

"I was getting to that. Obviously you're still attending classes, so you won't be leaving anytime soon. I'm thinking when this next semester ends for you, that might be the time to seek her out."

"And why should I trust you? How do I know that anything I say here won't be repeated to the old man?"

Qrow crossed his fingers in thought, nervously twiddling his thumbs.

"Like I already told you, this conversation never happened as far as Oz knows. But if you need more, and I don't blame you, then perhaps I could answer a couple of your questions at a later date."

That earned a melodic chuckle from the Viera.

"It sounds like you're not quite the lapdog that I assumed you would be."

"I trust Ozpin, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything he does. I get the feeling that you want to know more, and I'll tell you more. Once you've found out why the Summer Maiden has cut ties with us and if she has any idea about what happened to Summer Rose. When the semester ends, I'll give you the leads I have to track her down, but until then I'm not putting her at risk."

With a nod, Aran made to rise until Qrow caught her eye once more.

"As a sign of good faith, I have some news that might involve you. More Erzans, or so we assume, were found alive. In Vacuo. Word just came in this morning from Shade's Headmaster. I haven't even told Oz yet."

"Make sure it stays that way, and we have a deal."

Qrow blinked as he felt himself lean towards the table and put his head down. He shot back up a moment after his head touched to discover that she was gone. In a moment of befuddlement, he glanced at his scroll and found himself thoroughly confused as to how they had been talking for nearly two hours within Junior's club. It was then that he noticed one of the Malachite twins standing at the foot of the table, hands on her hips with a look of annoyance.

"Look you pervert, she's been gone for like an hour. Either get a drink or get the hell out before you decide to take another nap."

Aran found herself talking to her team that night, discussing what Qrow had revealed. When she said that she cast Sleep on the man, she was prepared for and promptly ignored both of the glares that were directed at her. She changed that topic casually by asking for their thoughts about Qrow's proposal. The first to voice her thoughts was Y'Shtola.

"The man means well it sounds, but he needs work on hiding things within his speech. It seems clear to me that these 'Erzans' must be somewhere around the Summer Maiden. He would not hint at meeting them and their general location as well as meeting this Maiden in the same timeframe if they weren't. Which means, she is likely in Vacuo with our comrades, if indeed the Erzans are like us."

Aran nodded slowly, looking at Ryne who didn't have much to add. She saw the girl's face fall slightly, prompting Aran to place a hand of reassurance on her shoulder, ignoring the pulsing Light she could see within her own limb.

"Do not worry, Ryne. Y'Shtola has lived longer than you, and I more than her. You do plenty of things that we don't. For one, I'd already be a Lightwarden without you."

Her shoulders seemed to square up at the Warrior's words, followed by a faint smile. Nodding, Aran released her and crossed her arms.

"But, we are overlooking something. Very few people are capable of traveling between the Shards. If the Scions did indeed follow us here, then they would have done so through the making of a bargain with the only individual I know of that can go between the Shards. Emet-Selch."

Ryne looked up.

"But the Exarch brought you to the First, didn't he? Why couldn't he have sent the others here?"

Y'Shtola nodded in sync with Aran, letting the Warrior explain.

"Full true that may be, but he only has the power to bring people to the Tower and return them to their bodies. I do not know exactly how he brought my physical being to the First, but I know that it cannot be used to send me anywhere but back to the Source. That leaves Emet-Selch, unless Krile managed a feat worthy of untold praise. I fear that our friends have made a pact with one that manipulates others in his sleep."

Silence followed for a few minutes until Ryne finally spoke once more.

"But… what if they did? It shouldn't matter. Urianger and Thancred, Alphinaud and Alisaie, they're smart enough to not be used by Emet-Selch. The Exarch too. If they did do such a thing, there must be a reason."

Y'Shtola chuckled.

"The reason, Ryne, is Aran. She has this annoying habit of making indescribably powerful bonds with those she meets, bringing out the best within them. There are few lengths that the Scions would not go to in order to make sure she is safe, to say nothing of nations."

The Warrior rolled her eyes.

"Were that true, then Garlemald would not be the terror that it is now."

"Ah, but you do not dispute my words themselves?"

Another shrug brought a smirk to Y'Shtola's lips before Aran replied.

"I simply do what must be done to bring about peace. I have not always been a figurehead, you know."

"A mere figurehead would not be the foremost warrior in the Source, love."

"Zenos beat me in combat just over two years or so ago."

"Five years for me."

"Which means nothing, since it is still only over a year for myself and Zenos."

"A couple years which saw your strength multiply exponentially and see you return to face him again and win. Even when he had Shinryu."

Aran threw her hands up in defeat.

"That was Azem! Her memories were returning to me en mass, as opposed to the snippets and instincts I had retained."

Y'Shtola raised an eyebrow at Aran, crossing her arms with an amused smile. It was not often that she could fluster the Warrior enough to break the mental barrier she had erected in an attempt to keep Aran and Azem as two separate entities within her mind. Not that it did much in Aran's mind aside from split her memories as Azem off into a longer past than her own.

Truthfully, Y'Shtola saw no difference between the two no matter what Aran thought. From her own observations, their mannerisms and personalities were the exact same, though when the barrier fell it was easy to see a weariness born of a thousand and more years of life bear down upon the already life-weathered Viera despite her apparent youth. Somewhere in her mind, Y'Shtola pouted at the unfairness of the woman looking younger than she.

Beyond that, the woman's prowess was near-legendary. The Echo was a powerful tool, giving those that possess it insight on their opponent's actions. It was awe-inspiring when one considered this singular entity's accomplishments and triumphs just within the years that Y'Shtola had known her, and yet more proof was found in Pyrrha. And, it was part of the reason Y'Shtola was so devoted to learning anything she could. She would make up for her lover's shortcomings, do what she knew the Warrior had not the patience nor the inclination to do. She may be an aetherial powerhouse, but it didn't take one long to learn that Aran did not have the mental intrigue required to delve as deeply into the why of the aether and history.

She had decided to be the scalpel to Aran's hammer, and thus far, it has succeeded magnificently.

Drawing her thoughts back on topic, Y'shtola shook her head.

"That aside, Garlemald was not your doing."

"But it was. I watched, even helped, Solus transform a working Republic into an Empire. And then I even helped him conquer those that should have been free. Y'Shtola, the only reason that Garlemald is what it is today is because of me."

"Emet-Selch would have found another way to accomplish the same things, perhaps even took to the field himself."

"Perhaps, perhaps not. There's no way to tell now anyways, is there? Regardless, our friends are being used by Emet-Selch if he did indeed transport them here. As you say, by Qrow's own mistake we can accurately surmise that both they and the Summer Maiden are in Vacuo. I believe I know how to tell where we are as well."

"Do tell." Y'Shtola stated.

"The Vytal Festival Tournament. I know we previously had no intentions on participating, but this is perhaps our chance to tell them where we are. The Tournament is broadcast throughout Remnant, and knowing our friends, they would watch it if only to gauge the strength of the people on this Shard. But by that same line of thought, they will likely only watch the finals or perhaps semi-finals. We will be in both just to be sure."

Y'Shtola and Ryne nodded. Then Ryne cocked her head in imitation of how Aran sometimes would.

"And what about Qrow's request?"

"He's still our most assured source of information at this point, until the woman holding Roman's leash makes an appearance. According to Neo, that should be this semester. Beyond that, I think being able to see a Maiden at work would allow us to confirm our theories."

Both of her companions nodded again. Then, they settled down for the evening, discussing less important matters.

The next day marked the beginning of the second semester, which started with a gathering of every available student in the amphitheater. Where Aran had expected to see Ozpin standing, she instead found Professor Goodwitch. As they waited for students to finish filing into the room, Y'Shtola hurriedly dragged her and Ryne to the back of the room.

"Aran, I need you to tell me something very important. There's a person standing near the front, standing apart from the rest. Can you tell me what they look like in your eyes?"

Aran frowned for a moment, but did as she was asked. When her eyes fell upon the figure, she frowned. Long white hair, fair skinned, and light blue eyes were reported, along with a headband that covered her forehead and held her hair, aside from her bangs, down. Something about her was familiar, though Aran could not make the connection in her mind aside from her features being distinctly Garlean.

"Thank you for telling me. Her aether is… strange, familiar. I shall ponder this."

Whatever else was going to be said was halted when Goodwitch began speaking.

"Good morning students, and welcome back to Beacon Academy for those of you who left for the break or have newly arrived from their own Academies. Starting today, your performances in each of your Combat and Grimm Studies classes will be evaluated through the first half the semester to decide on if you will be eligible to participate in the Vytal Festival Tournament. Score high enough marks through this quarter, and you will be allowed to put your teams forward for the Tournament."

Aran watched from near the back of the room as the familiar form of Bregan raised his hand to ask a question. Even now, the Raubahn look-alike still shot Aran and Y'Shtola glares the few times they passed in the halls. Thankfully, third and fourth year teams were often out on missions.

It still didn't make much sense as to why classes were only relevant in the first two years of the curriculum to Aran, though she did recall hearing that the third and fourth years focused on building experience and easing students into the idea of taking human life.

"Why do we need high marks in Grimm Studies this year, Professor Goodwitch? We normally only need Combat Class marks."

"A valid question. This year, the tournament will include an additional trial with the agreement of all four Kingdoms and their Academies. The specifics will remain classified until signups for the tournament open in the beginning of the year's fourth quarter. This additional trial is the reason Grimm Studies will be required. Make no mistake, this trial is quite different from the norm. If not taken seriously, then permanent injury or even loss of life may occur."

Aran snorted quietly. They were in a school that trained Huntsmen and Huntresses, a relatively mercenary profession that caused many to die relatively young.

"In addition to the Festival preparations, be aware that at the end of this third quarter of the year is a dance, which will be followed by first year students taking on their first official missions to start off the fourth quarter. Work hard, and you will go far. Dismissed."

The students went to their respective classes, allowing for the rhythm that Team ARY had grown accustomed to return. So their week went, until Friday with Combat Class. Once more, Aran and Pyrrha were pitted against each other.

Unlike the first time they fought, the two were well aware of how their opponents fought, and the spectacle they put on had awed many of the foreign students who did not know of their prowess. Having taught Pyrrha how to harness the Echo for combat, Aran was quite pleased with the young woman's skill.

Some part of her found herself reminded of when she had taught and sparred against her eldest kit; she too had possessed the Echo, and Pyrrha had every bit of martial prowess that Aran had drummed into Eoma's skull. Unlike Aran, the kit had always preferred the physical aspect of combat, as opposed to the arcane.

The sounds of metal meeting metal sounded between the two for nearly the entire hour, until Goodwitch had called the match as a tie when neither of them had landed a decisive blow.

When Aran returned to her seat, she watched as Cardin and Jaune were called to the ring. Beside her, Y'Shtola leaned in close enough to whisper.

"I think I've found Torchwick's master. Her aether is… convoluted. She has her own, but it's as if there's another layer of aether smothering hers. But only partially. And it seems to be reaching out, as if incomplete. If our theories are correct, then she is one of the four we seek."

Aran nodded as she kept her eyes to the ongoing fight. She was happy to see that Cardin no longer swung his mace in malice, opting instead to try and outsmart the blonde. They already knew that Cardin was a better combatant, but it had become clear early on in their training sessions together that Jaune possessed the superior mind for strategy. After Aran's intervention, the former bully had done quite a bit to try and better himself.

During her musing, the Warrior felt Ryne's hand tap her leg to get her attention.

"That Cinder woman was watching your fight with Pyrrha with a very close eye, as well. I couldn't tell if she was paying more attention to you or to Pyrrha, but it was rather uncomfortable to witness."

Aran smiled, letting the girl know she had heard.

That night found Aran and Pyrrha joined on the rooftop by Blake. They spoke about various things for several hours, until Blake revealed why she was there.

"So, I guess I should say that Ruby and Weiss sent me up here to ask you guys some questions."

Aran raised an eyebrow before motioning for her to continue.

"They wanted to know a bit about Erza. And I do too. How difficult were your lives there, before everything happened to bring you here?"

The Viera cocked her head in thought, choosing the words she would say while Pyrrha gazed at the shattered moon.

"My home was very… isolated. Unlike Y'Shtola, I was raised in my tribe of sisters. None bothered us, because the men would hunt down the intruders within our forest. I do not know what your people would call it, but my home was known as the Skatay Range. My particular village, however, adhered to the Word of the Wood similar to those located deep within the Golmore Jungle. I left my sisters after a disagreement, which resulted in my exile from the village. I was still welcome within the Range, at least in the villages which did not follow the Word of the Wood as strictly, but I decided to leave and explore the world instead."

Blake frowned as a question came to mind.

"You talk about your sisters from time to time, but I've never heard you talk about men."

"Men in our culture defended the forest. None lived within the villages, and only returned every few years to mate before heading back into the wilderness. I personally never met a male of my tribe, though I did have the occasional encounter with a solitary warden of the Woods. They are dead, as I would not be here otherwise. In any case, I left my sisters earlier on in my life, striking out to explore the world. As you have already heard, I did a great many things that I found pleasure in, with no regrets."

Blake's cheeks turned red as Aran continued.

"My life is longer than you may think, and even now I still find things that make it worth having left behind the Word of the Wood."

"How did you meet Y'Shtola then?"

"At first, we were… awkward. She is a rather learned student of history, at least that of Erza. We had our discrepancies. Our first meeting was in a city-state we called Limsa Lominsa, though we did not know each other yet. She stood at the time a few inches shorter than she does now, accompanied by a group of people that would become close friends in the future. Their names were Thancred, Yda, and Papalymo. There was another there, an adventurer that would later go missing along with other well-known warriors. Either way, an enemy ship fired on us later on and injured most of them. I blamed myself, even though I aided her in saving us all. In the confusion, I snuck away. When she encountered me five or so years later, I thought she wouldn't remember me. I was quite wrong."

"And Ryne?"

"Ryne was locked away for most of her life. Thancred rescued her and became like a father figure to her, teaching her how to survive. We actually only met less than a year ago, at least to us. At this point, I feel you would know her just about as well as I do, even if I do know her past. Between you and me however, none of us are truly Erzan. The area I grew up in was called Othard, Sharlayan for Y'Shtola, and Kholusia for Ryne."

The Warrior watched Blake's ears twitch, her expression clearly giving away an interest she hadn't thought she would find.

"Were there specialties for each of these areas? Such as Atlas being the most technologically advanced among the Kingdoms?"

"None of particular note, aside from cultural differences. The closest I would think would be Sharlayan, which was regarded as a nation of scholars. The study of aether was their specialty, though I suppose the closest you would liken it to would be the study of someone's soul, but on a larger scale."

A very large amount of detail was left unspoken, but Pyrrha didn't say anything, opting instead to keep staring at the moon.

As the night turned to early morning, Blake finally returned to her dorm, more than content with what she had learned. Aran and Pyrrha followed suit.

And so the next month passed in a familiar fashion, with a careful eye kept on Cinder. Neo contacted Aran, informing her of a base of operations set up outside the city, though she refused to state the exact location. She instead reminded Aran of her agreement with Torchwick, requesting an update of her plan to deal with Cinder.

"When I can remove her without drawing attention to myself." Was her answer, which seemed to placate the man.

It was the beginning of the second month when something else happened of note. A Saturday morning, in fact, which found Aran and Pyrrha still talking on the rooftop as the sun began to rise on the horizon.

Aran stopped talking mid-sentence as objects appeared on the horizon, objects which quickly revealed themselves to be airships. Something that eerily reminded her of a Garlean invasion. With them, was a massive shape.

"An invasion?!" Aran asked in alarm, her hand darting into her enchanted bag.

Pyrrha snapped her hand over Aran's arm, stopping her from retrieving her staff.

"No! That's an Atlesian fleet escorting the Amity Colosseum, Aran! Actually. I'm quite surprised you can even make out any details. They're just specks in the sky to me…"

Blinking, Aran withdrew her hand slowly.

"I hope you're right. That looks to be enough to be an occupation force than just an escort."

The Mistrali champion nodded nervously as she counted the specks.

"I hope so too. That's a lot of firepower."