Well, here we are. Chapter 22 was much easier to go through and write, and it was what I would call a necessary chapter. Hope you enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 22: Moving Forward

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.(Chapter Start)

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August 5th

Monday

Sunny

Azura woke up with a jolt, sweating and panting. He looked around the room, his heartbeat racing as he looked around at his sleeping friends. He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, trying to calm himself.

"Azura."

Summer's voice helped calm him, and he shook his head to clear his senses.

"You are shaken up. Did you dream?"

Instead of answering normally, Azura asked a question in return. "Did you?"

"Azura, you can't exactly hide yourself from me, despite our efforts. What's wrong?"

Azura sighed, rubbing his face with a hand "Tukson. I don't feel so...personally emotional over it or anything, but to see death so blatantly thrown in my face was shocking. I've been dreaming...of that death. Of yours. Imagining Luna's death."

Summer was silent for a moment, and Azura glanced around the room again, noticing that Pyra was gone and Ren was also missing. The shower was running as well. Just as he made to comment on it, Summer spoke again.

"I can see why. You have been used to ghosts, but not of death itself. But there was not much that we could do. We have no idea what those people could do. And clearly, neither does the girl who works with them."

"Yeah, I suppose that's true. But it still feels wrong, having just watched a man die. It's cruel."

Summer sighs, and the sound rattles his head a bit. "I know."

In an attempt to change the topic, Azura finally spoke about what he noticed earlier. "Pyra is still gone. She said she was visiting family...but she didn't seem so happy about it. It's...odd."

"Without knowing her reasons, who's to say it's odd? And I would wager to say that Ren is in the shower."

Azura hummed in agreement, looking around the room for a third time, letting the dream start to fade from his memory as he shifted to be sitting on the edge of the bed. He bends over to grab the switchblade in his bag, playing with it as he thought of the owner of the blade.

He had agreed to help Neo. He wasn't sure if it was the best decision to make, but he couldn't just let her die. And he remembered her response to his question clearly.

"I'll find you...when I need you." Azura muttered to himself.

"Azura?" A voice of slight intrigue spoke.

Azura threw the switchblade into the bag and looks up, his mix-matched eyes meeting Ren's soft magenta eyes.

"Heya, Ren. You showered, I see."

"Yes. Better to do it in the peace and quiet of the morning."

Azura chuckled, shrugging half-heartedly. "True. What's got you up so early though? It's only…" Azura looks at his scroll. "Just after eight in the morning."

Ren puts an undershirt on before responding to Azura, his black hair pulled back.

"I could ask you the same. Your heartbeat has been elevated for a while."

Azura looked at Ren, confused. "What? How would you know that?"

"Doesn't matter. You've been like this for a few days, but I was waiting for a moment where it would just be the two of us to talk about it."

Azura looks up at Ren, seeing a trace of what seemed to be concern in his magenta eyes. Sighing, Azura speaks.

"Can't talk about the cause."

"I know." Ren said simply, surprising Azura. "If you really didn't think that, you would have told us already." He let silence sit in the air for a while before speaking again. "Does Blake know?"

Azura raises an eyebrow, trying to seem confused. "Blake? Why would she know?"

"She knew you would be coming back later than her. Seems to fit that she was there for what happened."

Azura frowns. "You are a lot more perceptive than you act like you are."

Ren slightly twisted his lips into a smile. "It's a part of my charm."

Azura blinked. "Was that...emotion on your face?" Azura smirks, a playful tone in his voice. "Maybe you do have a charm."

Ren shook his head. "Yes, it was. Anyway, I would suggest talking to her if you need it." He turned away, comb in hand to brush his hair, and walked towards the bathroom and saying one last thing. "But...if you want my advice, I would find a place of peace and talk it out with yourself. Or with the ghosts. I always forget you have those."

He likely didn't, but Azura appreciated the gesture. "I think I'll take that advice. Thanks, Ren."

Azura got up, taking a few minutes to freshen up, then walked out of the dorm to go to the only place on his mind. Making sure to swiftly make his way out of the dorm building, he breathed in the fresh air and shook his head.

"It feels good to be out in the open. Don't think I have appreciated it quite enough, you know?"

Summer didn't respond, but she didn't need to. Azura was getting used to knowing when Summer was thinking. He can't say he blamed her for thinking considering what was going on recently.

As he walked towards the same cliffside that overlooked the city of Vale, he could make out Yang's figure and he stopped walking. Breathing in and out, Azura flexed his fingers.

"Better now, than never. Do not hesitate in mending bonds."

Azura nodded, slowly making his way to Yang's sitting figure, standing just behind her.

"Yang."

She didn't turn around, simply speaking while facing away from Azura.

"We need to talk."

"Agreed." Azura replied simply.

He moved forward, sitting next to Yang and swinging his legs over the edge. With a sigh, he spoke again.

"Are you still angry with me?"

Yang snorted. "No, I'm not. Not anymore."

"That's...good."

Yang sighed heavily, and Azura could see her looking at him for a moment before turning to face the view again. "There's been a lot on my mind recently, for obvious reasons. But, I wasn't being open with myself and defaulted on anger. I apologize if that was putting you down."

Azura shook his head, leaning back and placing his hands behind him to stay propped up. "It's fine, Yang. I understand. Just when you might have gotten used to the idea of dead family, some guy just appears and ends up revealing that your mother's ghost was still around. And now that guy is kinda...soul bonded with her." He looks over at Yang. "It probably didn't help that Ruby was so...not entranced...but she was-"

"She was so excited and happy." Yang finished for him.

Azura nods. "And you were scared."

Yang frowns. "It made me angry. To be scared. It's frustrating."

Azura blinks, and he felt Summer's anticipation running through his body like it was his own. "What changed?"

Yang turned to him, and the guilt on her face was a shock to him. Her voice was laced with guilt and more emotions than he was used to seeing on Yang. "Ruby did. Yesterday."

Azura thought back to last night, where Ruby was standing and waiting for him at the airship dock. She hadn't seemed off at that moment to him. And Summer made no comment to him either.

"What happened yesterday with Ruby?" Azura asked.

Yang looks away, and she sighs very heavily. "She broke down. Had a full on anxiety attack."

Azura widened his eyes, and he could hear Summer gasp loudly. "She what?!"

"I...I never noticed…" Summer said in shock.

"Yeah...said that I was driving you away. Making you do dangerous things. And that she would lose her mother again and you for the first and last time."

"I hadn't realized…Summer didn't either. I didn't want her to know what I was doing."

Yang clenched her hand into a fist. "Neither did I. She's been feeling like that for a while, if I had to guess."

"When did she get so good at hiding her emotions…?" Summer muttered in her head.

"So then...when she heard I wouldn't be around Beacon for a bit from Blake…"

"Yeah. Blake texted it to us and Weiss happened to be out at the time. Ruby kinda freaked, had the attack, then stood out there until you came back."

Silence filled the air as Azura thought about the new info. He knew that Ruby was insecure about parts of a social life and having friends, but he hadn't thought it would cause this.

"It...makes sense. I should've thought of that. Should have thought of her before jumping to do my own thing. I mean...I do have your mother within my body. And without my semblance…"

Yang shot a glare at him. "No talk of death. You aren't dying."

Azura nods, dropping the topic. Yang breathed out, speaking again after calming herself.

"What are you doing in Vale so late at night?"

When Azura didn't respond, Yang looked at him and narrowed her lilac colored eyes. "Azura. Why are you hiding it?

Azura looks away. "It's complicated. Not something that should be known, for safety reasons, if it goes that way."

Yang shakes her head, and he can hear her growl in annoyance. "Fine." She breathes out again, once more calming herself. "Okay. Is it because I am the one asking?"

Azura shook his head. "No, it's not that. But if someone like Pyrrha, or Jaune...or Ruby...catches wind of the danger I might go through, they'll get involved. Two trained huntresses or not."

Yang frowns. "Makes sense to keep them out, but does no one have to know? Me? Blake? Weiss? Your own partner?"

Azura sighs. "Blake knows. She was there with me, if you forgot."

Yang falls back and rests on the ground. She stares at the sky as she speaks again. "Right. Do you think anyone else should know?"

Azura frowns, thinking. "You and Weiss, maybe. But I don't trust you two to not take action in my stead, no offense. You're you, and Weiss would probably go all 'scary domineering woman' on me into I allow her to come with."

"Kinky." Yang said with a chuckle.

"Very funny." Azura said in response with a deadpan.

"So, you believe it to be best if only you and Blake know what you are doing?"

"Yes."

"Does...does mom think that too?"

Azura flinched, and he could feel an immense sadness well up within him. A moment later, Summer spoke to him. "I do."

"She does, Yang." Azura spoke.

Yang nods slowly and closes her eyes. "Guess I'll just have to settle for it." She opens her eyes and gets up, stretching. "Will you at least talk to Ruby soon? Not about this. But about her and mom. She really wants to talk to her, even if she won't admit it. And well, I know about why she says no to it. Because it could kill you to separate you and Summer. But she's not devoid of emotions. Of wants and desires."

Yang turned around and starts to walk off. As Azura watches her, she speaks again.

"She doesn't want to be able to speak to mom alone, Azura. She wants to be able to speak with her mother, no matter what. Even if you believe in privacy, which I am thankful for, Ruby doesn't care."

Azura laid down against the grass, sighing.

"I'm not a very good host for a mother, am I, Summer?"

"And I am not a good mother."

Azura got his scroll from his pocket, intent on asking Ruby to talk with him later.

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.(Line Break)

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Ruby Rose, the girl of speed that she was, was late.

It had been ten minutes without a single sign of her. Azura was starting to wonder if she would show up. He leaned back, resting on the bench that was near the very same cliffside he had spoken to Yang on just a few hours before. It was just after lunch, but Azura wasn't exactly feeling hungry.

"She'll come. Probably with a story and everything." Summer said, a sense of knowing the future in her tone.

"You sound rather sure of yourself."

Summer laughed lightly, a sound Azura found enjoyable instead of disconcerting now. "I'd do the same thing."

Azura chuckled, though it didn't last long as a high pitched voice cried out, excitement evident. "Azura!"

He turned, looking over to see Ruby running towards him. She stopped just in front of him as he stayed seated on the bench.

"Hi, Ruby. What's got you so excited." He tilted his head. "And did you just shower or something?"

Ruby nodded, a smile on her face. "There was this entire food fight in the mess hall! It was awesome!" Putting on an act of facial expressions and waving her arms around, she goes on. "Yang had turkey gloves and was all 'POW' and 'WHAM'! And Weiss was stabbing people with bread! Team Juniper stood no chance to us!"

Azura smiled in return. "That's great, Ruby. Looks like I missed some good fun, then."

"You did!" Ruby said, before the excitement wore off, and she calmed down considerably "So, what have you been up to today?"

Azura shrugged. "Not much. Just hanging out. Y'know, speaking to people."

Ruby sighed, and the look she gave Azura reminded him of Summer. "Such as Yang?"

Azura rubbed the back of his head and laughed quietly. "She told you guys about that, huh?"

"Yep." Ruby said, popping the 'p'.

As she sat down next to Azura, he shook his head. "Well, can't say I shouldn't have seen that coming."

Ruby laughed lightly, seeming serious but relaxed. "That's for sure." She breathes in and out deeply, looking at the sky. "Since I kind of know what you asked me here for...well, I'm fine. Better than yesterday."

Azura nods his head, wondering what to say in response to that. "...That's good. Glad to know that is the case. But that doesn't excuse my actions."

Ruby looked at him wide-eyed. "What? No! That's not my point!"

Azura shrugs. "Well, I basically hid my actions and Blake probably said something that set you off. Not to say that Blake is at fault for anything, but you get my point."

Ruby frowns. "No, that's not it. I just assumed the worst was happening...I am sorry. I didn't think clearly."

Azura shakes his head, placing a hand on Ruby's arm. "Don't apologize for that. You shouldn't have to apologize for being worried for a friend."

"I wasn't just worried...I was anxious and...and...I was terrified."

Ignoring Summer's exclamation of swears, Azura looked down. "I see. And that was my fault. I didn't stop to consider what having your mother basically tied to me meant to you. Yang proved that much."

He heard Ruby sigh and then lean back against the bench. When nothing was said, Azura looked over at her, seeing her looking into the sky. Instead of questioning her, Azura leaned back as well, closing his eyes and waiting.

After a few moments, he heard Ruby speak. "It's not that I don't trust you. Or that I don't trust Summer to protect you." A few more moments of silence pass by before she speaks again. "But to think of every little possibility that could kill my chance to talk to my mother...it scares me. I can't help it, it just slips in my mind and then never leaves."

Azura opened his eyes, taking in the sky and breathing in the warm air. With a bit of hesitation, he speaks. "And if you could speak to Summer now, would you say yes? Even with me being the inbetween?"

Ruby laughs for a moment, letting her excitement break through before damping in the somber atmosphere. "I'd love for any chance to. But...I admit that I don't know what to say. I've spent so many years trying to not have any questions, that it's almost like I've forgotten what to even ask her."

Azura blinked, leaning forward and looking at Ruby watch the sky as she leaned back on the bench. "Then just speak. Not to anyone in particular, just voice your thoughts. Tell her your thoughts."

As the breeze went by and Ruby remained silent, Azura waited patiently. It was a struggle for her, he could see. Anyone in her position would feel the same, to not have a parent for so long in their life.

He felt bad for the stab of pain and anger that washed through him, knowing that it was Summer's. But there was nothing for him to do about it.

"I just...I don't know. It hurts. To know that my mother is dead. And it hurts even more to know that she knows of every night where I spoke to myself about how much I hated it and her for abandoning me. And how I felt like a burden to dad...he would always say how much I looked her when I was younger. He says it less now, but it still makes me feel so guilty. I feel like I am some curse to him." She grows quiet, her next words barely heard. "Uncle Qrow drinks...a lot. I love him so much, but I worry about him. I feel like he's always drunk now."

Azura barely recognized the name, but it was clear that both Ruby and Summer knew this Qrow well. A flash of memory came to him, and he saw four people sitting on the cliffside, laughing and joking, and he wondered if he would place a face to the name at some point.

He heard Summer sigh, before speaking.

"Azura, can you speak for me?"

"Yeah." He said to Summer, then spoke directly to Ruby. "Summer will speak in a moment, and I'll be repeating her, okay?"

"Okay." Ruby said quietly.

As Summer started speaking, Azura repeated after her. "I know. How you feel, that is. It pained me to see you on those nights where you felt so alone. To see Tai slowly go downward, and for Yang to take it upon herself to raise you. It hurt to see you have a darker childhood because of me. It really did feel like I was abandoning you for so long. And Qrow...I know. It hurts to seem him like that. More than you might know."

Azura couldn't help his smile as he heard the next words, then spoke again. "But you will never be a burden or a curse. You are loved. Your father loves you, your sister loves you. I still love you, as well. Even in death, I will love you."

As emotion wreathed Azura, most of which he knew to not be his own, he reached forward and grabbed Ruby's hand. She sat up, her own emotions in her eyes. Sadness, anxiety. But also joy and relief. As Azura met her eyes, she seemed surprised. As Azura took notice, he loosened his grip, only for Ruby to tighten it again.

"It's not you...no, it's just that I look at you in this moment, and see two people. Not just Azura. Not just mother. But both of you. I can see mom's sadness, and see that she is hurt. And also her love. But I also see your compassion, Azura. As burdened as you say you are with such a semblance, you are willing to help others with it. Your semblance is one that might be made from a dark time, but it brings love and relief to those who you help with it. If your semblance was the manifestation of anything, it would not be death. It would be heart. You bring your heart out for all to see, just to help people."

Azura smiled, responding. "And if your semblance was the manifestation of anything, it wouldn't be cowardice. It would be the desire to be able to rescue. You want to be a hero. To be someone great. If I could speak my mind, I would say that Summer was the same way. Very much a family semblance, if I must say."

Summer breathed out an airy laugh in response, and Ruby smiled. She seemed to return back to her old self after a few more moments, speaking.

"Thank you, Azura. And thank you...for always being there, mom. Even if I never knew you were."

Azura didn't even need Summer to say what she wanted to for him to respond. "She'd do it for you. She'd do anything for you."

Ruby's smile grew.

"Thank you, Azura. Without you, neither of us would be able to do this."

Luna was behind Ruby, having listened to everything they had said. Azura was watching her as her golden orbs landed on his own. His smile grew as he looked at her, and she smiled back. Death might be a part of life, but Azura knew that his semblance allowed for those final words to be known. Death might be a lesson everyone was eventually forced to know, but was it so wrong to have the ability to let the lesson have a less severe consequence?

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.(Line Break)

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August 10th

Saturday

Clear

Azura was finding that he would be spending his time in the RWBY dorm often. Especially on Saturday's. And he would commonly be listening to Weiss's every demand each time.

"Lift your right arm up for me." Weiss said as she moved from letting Azura's right leg down. Her hair was down for once, and Azura couldn't help but watch it as he lifted his arm for Weiss.

Seeing it flow this freely, especially with the snow white hair, reminded him of his mother. It was disconcerting, if Azura could be honest.

"Azura, you have the weirdest thoughts. That, or you actually are into older women."

"Not a word, Summer. I don't need dead mom's snooping around my mind."

"Wait...is Weiss even older than you? Now I want to know." Summer commented.

Azura kept calm externally, but felt an immense desire to facepalm.

"Seriously? You want to know that badly?"

"Azura! This is critical information as the woman in your head!"

"For what?!" Azura mentally exclaimed.

"Azura, listen to me, you dumb exorcism victim!"

Azura snapped from his mental conversation with brilliant grace. "Wha-? Oh, hello."

Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes, sighing in resignation. "Seriously? What was so important that you couldn't pay attention to anything?"

Azura blinked, feeling Summer mentallly poke him several times, if that was even possible. "Uh...Summer was talking to me about your age."

Weiss blinked in return. "...What?"

"Also...exorcism victim? Really?" Azura said, smirking.

Weiss shook her head. "That is of no importance! Why does the woman in your head even care about my age?!"

"So that this poor boy can finally have thoughts on romance! He's so lacking…" Summer cried internally.

"She believes I like older women." Azura answered honestly.

Weiss stared at him with a raised eyebrow, so Azura gave a bit more context. "I made a comment about something being weird and now she runs with it."

Weiss had basically forgotten about moving onto the next arm at this point, responding. "So...the ghost in your head wants to know my age because she's being a deviant?"

"No!" Summer said.

"Yes." Azura replied.

Weiss shook her head. "She's weird."

"Agreed."

"What?"

"And very dumb."

"Yup."

"Hey!"

"She is absolutely Ruby's mom."

"Oh yeah."

"Don't diss my child! Or...is this an insult to me?"

Azura laughed, and Weiss shook her head. She sighed.

"I'm still seventeen. Now give me your left arm." Weiss said, moving to his other side.

Azura gave her his other arm, sleeve pulled back and everything, as he responded. "So am I, Weiss. November second, you?"

"February third." Weiss said, focusing on the glyph on his wrist.

"Just about nine months older, then." Summer said, satisfied.

"You're a weirdo, Summer."

A flash of concern ran through his system from her cackle, but seeing Luna's amused smile over their conversation kind of made it a bit better to him. He enjoyed seeing his mother smile. Though, he sort of missed the time where it was just the two of them. They didn't get too much time alone anymore, except for a few days here and there. Even his letters to the Blue family were a bit more random, even if they still went back and forth once a month.

"Face." Weiss said, almost demandingly.

Just another day in the life of a Beacon student, Azura thought. He dropped his arm and tilted his face up, waiting. Weiss came forward, her hair falling around her face and slightly tickling his face as she placed one hand on his chin and the other on the glyph. After a minute or so, she started to mutter to herself.

"I'm surprised that no one has commented on the glyphs that can be seen. It's well hidden, yes, but honestly. Still, that is the preferred outcome of that. I do not need to hear of some long winded stories about how I claimed you as a suitor or something…" She blinked, as if realizing what she was saying.

Her face shifts backs and she looks at Azura in the eyes. "Not a word. I so much as hear you say anything about my words, you'll become an ice cube."

And just like that, Azura was left there with that unsettling idea, forced into silence by not wanting to mess Weiss up with whatever she did with the glyphs. After a few minutes longer, Weiss moved back, and sighed.

"You're good. A few adjustments were needed, since things were loosening up, but that's about it. No battery recharge either, so that's all I need to do."

Azura smiled and leaned back on the bed he was one. "Thanks, Weiss. You've been a great help ever since we decided to actually be friends."

Weiss smirked for a moment, before dropping it. "Just as you have helped me. It seems only fitting that good things are repaid with kindness, you know?"

"Agreed." Azura said, only to retract the statement a moment later. "Unless it's Jaune. He just keeps getting told no."

Weiss rolled her eyes. "I don't dislike Jaune. I just don't reciprocate his feelings, whatever they may be."

Azura shrugged. "He'll learn, eventually. At least he hasn't done it too often."

"Indeed. And at least he tried different angles, too."

"Oh? Praise from the Ice Queen?" Azura said, amused.

"Shush, Azura!" Weiss exclaimed, pointing a finger at him as she glared.

"You threatened to turn me into an ice cube. That is a classic Ice Queen!" Azura protested.

Weiss was about to respond back to him before a scroll went off. Azura was about to get up once he noticed that it was his Beacon scroll, but Weiss beat him to it. Though, her widened eyes were certainly worrisome. He got up, moving to Weiss as she spoke.

"Why is Headmaster Ozpin asking you to personally go to his office?"

Azura grabbed his scroll and dismissed the notification before putting it away, then responded. "No idea. But he's doing it, so I kinda have to answer it."

Weiss frowned. "Isn't it...a little weird how commonly you get asked to go to him...specifically alone?"

Azura tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

Weiss sighed. "He doesn't really ask students to personally visit him. They either request to see him or he finds us on the grounds."

Azura shrugged. "I don't know. He's been doing it, though."

"But why?" Weiss asked.

Azura looked at Weiss. "For one reason or another. No idea what he wants to talk to me for this time."

Weiss frowned again, but shook her head. "Alright, I suppose. It's just weird, is all."

Azura smiled, trying to seem reassuring. "It's nothing top secret, Weiss. I promise you that."

Weiss shooed him off with a wave of a hand. "Yeah, yeah. Go do your thing. I need to get my hair together."

Azura chuckled, moving to leave, but turning one last time. "I like your hair when it's down. Looks good on you, since you always keep it up in a ponytail."

He laughed at her shout for him to get out of her dorm. He just hoped that this talk with Ozpin wouldn't be serious.

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.(Line break)

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Seeing a seated Ozpin and a standing General Ironwood in Ozpin's office totally made him feel like it was going to be a serious conversation. He stepped out of the elevator, a little too timidly for his liking.

"A...student?" Ironwood muttered, looking at Ozpin with a gruff voice.

The white military outfit that the general wore was intimidating to Azura. This was a man with tremendous power. That was not to say that Ozpin didn't have power as the headmaster of Beacon Academy, but something about seeing the general of Atlas right in front of him made him nervous.

"Yes, James, a student." Ozpin said, as if it was a dumb question.

Azura kept silent, thinking about the stories he had heard about the man from his mother. She was currently floating around him, taking him in. she was curious, that was for sure. She had told him that she did know Ironwood, since she had worked in Atlas before, but they weren't particularly close. Kind of like a work associate, if Azura had to guess.

Ironwood was quick to shake his head, narrowing his eyes at Ozpin. "What do you have planned?"

He turned back to look at Azura, and Azura quickly froze up nervously. He was staring at his eyes specifically, studying them. As Ozpin answered, Ironwood turned away and Azura felt like he was no longer under some iron grip.

"Nothing of the sort, James. I simply wished for you to meet young Azura Heart. And to perhaps share his semblance, if he is comfortable with sharing it."

Ozpin looked over at him, and he answered with as much confidence as he could. "Sure."

He turned to Ironwood, nervously licking his lips, then spoke again. "My semblance allows me to interact and be with ghosts and spirits, sir."

Ironwood looked back at Azura's eyes, then to his hair. He frowned, but did not comment on it when he spoke. "An interesting semblance...but it can clearly do more."

Azura nodded, keeping the list short. "It can, sir. I can give a physical form to the ghosts and spirits, even allowing them to summon what they consider their personal weaponry. It can also work passively, allowing me to see them at any time and still be able to touch them." He pauses, thinking over his next words, then pointed to his head. "It can also have this happen passively."

Ironwood nodded, then turned to Ozpin. "Is that all?"

Ozpin's small smile made a sudden defensive urge rush through Azura. Summer was getting restless, he could feel.

"Yes, James. I'm sure you are done with your business here for now. We shall discuss the Vytal tournament and Atlas Academy's students at a later point."

As Ironwood left, he stopped before Azura and spoke quietly. "You remind me of some people. People long thought dead." He walked off, speaking some final words. "Good luck in the tournament, Heart."

As Ironwood left, the elevator doors closing, Ozpin looked over at Azura.

The boy had hoped that Ironwood leaving would make the atmosphere of the office lighter, but he felt more nervous than anything. After a few moments, Ozpin spoke.

"I apologize if you felt nervous around Ironwood. He does not try to seem intimidating. You were called here for another reason. It's about your condition with Summer."

Azura stepped forward, glancing at Luna, then back at Ozpin. "What about it?"

Ozpin drank from his coffee cup, then sighed. "I am still looking into possible solutions, but I am unable to find any possible cases of it ever being done. There is something that I am willing to think over, but that is for another conversation. Regardless, it seems that most of these solutions are directly about separation." He drinks more coffee before speaking again. "I am trying to find a way for it to benefit you, Azura. I think it would be possible to actually allow you to disconnect from a soul bond without losing it, if that makes sense."

Azura smiled sheepishly. "It...kind of doesn't, I must admit."

Ozpin chuckled. "No matter. The idea is that you would be able to live without needing to be connected to Summer, but I do not have a full grasp on what would happen if we tried it. I assume you would not want to risk it?"

Azura nodded. "Yes. I would prefer to..you know, be alive. It's quite nice."

Ozpin nodded in return. "Good. That is a good view to have, even if it is simple. Then I will continue looking for the safest way to go about this."

Azura smiles. "Thank you, sir."

"And one last thing. The Nightmare grimm…" Ozpin sighed. "It's possible that it is in hiding right now. We might possibly lose contact with it, since the one tracking it cannot always be there. I just thought it would be better for you to know."

Azura frowned. "I understand, sir."

"It is unlikely that it will move too far. Not with the kind of Grimm that it is." Ozpin shook his head. "That is all, you may leave."

As Azura also left the office, the doors closing, Summer finally spoke.

"Ironwood too. I wonder how many people know of your situation…"

Apparently as many as Ozpin thought might need to know. Azura didn't know how to feel about that.

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.(Character Shift/Line Break)

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Neo was swinging her legs back and forth on the catwalk of the new warehouse they were in. Down below, she could see Roman yelling at some White Fang grunts. They were pitiful. It made her want to end their lives, if only for them to serve some use.

That use being for her entertainment.

But she was told to be on hold. Roman was quite serious with telling her that. And she would listen to him, even if it bored her to death. Her thoughts drifted away as she watched Roman continue to go off, thinking on what that boy said.

Agreeing to help her with those earnest eyes. She licked her lips, smiling as she thought about it. He was just so tempting to her. His willingness to help just made her desire to break him grow.

It frustrated her to remember that she wanted his help. He could not do that if she had her way. She knew she had to be slow and methodical with it.

Looking at her scroll, she stared at the time, wondering when she would next need him. Their next goal was highly illegal, as she thought of the giant Atlesian mech within the warehouse.

She wondered if she could sway him to her side sooner, rather than later. Logically, she knew it was better to wait it out and slowly break him down to be obedient only to her.

But she wanted it now. She wanted that innocence to be crushed and destroyed.

Neo stood up, walking off. She needed to prepare.

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.(Chapter End)

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And here's Ironwood. A very interesting character, if you want my opinion. I can't say he'll be seen too often, but I really hope that I'll find space for him if it would fit his character.

And Neo. Well, she's doing her thing. Planning ahead of time and trying to keep her desires in check.