This chapter was...interesting to write. A bit of an info dump, but that's just how the beginning of each part of GVLP seems to go. Was still a lot of fun, though.

Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 44: Reunion of Strangers

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.(Chapter Start)

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September 28th (same day)

Saturday

Cloudy

"Welcome, Azura. I am glad you could make it."

Ozpin spoke as the clocktower ticked, his words greeting Azura as he exited the elevator. The room was empty beyond Ozpin's desk and the bookshelves, all of which were pushed out of the way and to the side. The headmaster was staring out the glass wall that he normally faced away from, his cane in hand. Azura stepped forward, Luna gliding off to be ahead of Azura's destination next to Ozpin, then looked out the window as well.

He wondered what it was that the man was looking at. The view was beautiful, the early twilight hours creating a burnt orange skyline as the Beacon grounds were laid out before them. Further out, the city of Vale was standing tall as the dark silhouettes of the Atlesian airships loomed overhead while Amity arena floated passively in the sky. The forests and plains surrounding that city and the distance from Beacon with the lake stretching between was a stark reminder of just how small Vale was as a city, no matter how one looked at it.

"The sun rises and sets every single day on Remnant, just as the moon seems to become more whole throughout the month before crumbling again." The man spoke, which Azura listened to in silence. "And just as the moon crumbles, so too has history itself. And as history vanishes, so too does the knowledge and lessons of that history. Sometimes, I like to look out upon Vale and wonder if those lessons are remembered, if that knowledge remained intact."

"Do you think they are?" Azura eventually asks, unsure of what his point was.

"Some of those lessons are...some are not. Humans tend to not have the best memory, you know." Ozpin says, chuckling. "And when that happens, we must look inward for that knowledge of the past. From the soul, some would say." He pauses, looking at Azura from the side. "But, for you, Azura...you have to do both. You have over two decades of memory and skill in you because of Summer, and your semblance provides you with the ability to see a unique look into the past."

"Then, the test you wanted to see about my semblance was in regards to Summer?"

Ozpin nods, fully turning to Azura. "You would be correct, yes. If you recall the last time this topic was fully brought up, I told you of the dangers of separating you and Summer and what that could mean for you."

Azura thinks of Ruby's anger and anxiety about it, nodding slowly. "I do remember that. But, you also made mention of a possible new way to go about it. I assume that's what I am here for?"

"As smart as ever, I see." Ozpin replied, turning away from the window and walking away. "Yes, I think I have figured out a way to...in a manner of speaking, split you and Summer in a safe way, if only temporarily. Something I have little familiarity in, given the difference in what...I know and what your semblance does."

Azura frowned slightly as he turned to watch the man walk off to the center of the room, remembering the visages of what seemed to be different people around Ozpin. Azura was certain that the man had a similar semblance to himself, but he could never bring himself to ask about it.

Instead, he approaches the man as he asks another question. "A temporary separation? How is that any safer than a permanent one?"

"Let me put it to you this way, Azura." The man says, hands resting on the top of his cane as he looked at him over his glasses. "A permanent separation assumes that you are completely separate from Summer, your souls no longer trying to eat each other whole. A temporary separation, however, keeps your souls in touch still. In theory, Summer would be able to come apart from you without fully separating."

Azura takes the information in, nodding after a moment. "You're implying that this is safer because it doesn't mess with something we cannot possibly imagine?"

"Precisely so. Instead of playing my hand at being god and risking the safety of one of my students, I can show you a safe alternative for now. Whether or not we return to the topic is for another time." Ozpin says. "But, until you tell me that you want to learn how to do it, I cannot guide you."

Azura pauses, feeling hesitance within him, both his own and Summer's. He looks to Luna, who had floated up beside Ozpin, her expression holding a level of confidence in him and his decision-making.

"Summer?"

"...I think it could work, but this is still Ozpin we're talking about here. How can we be sure?"

"I understand that, but it feels genuine. He may have his secrets, Summer...some probably darker than others, but we all have secrets." Azura replies mentally, trying to convey a tenderness in his words.

His words give Summer pause. "Yes, we do."

Ozpin, Summer, Azura, and many more. He knew that just the three of them in the room, four with Luna, all had their secrets. There is nothing more human than the ability to keep secrets, as Ozpin would probably say.

"Whatever you choose, we'll do it together." Summer whispered.

With her words and his thoughts in mind, Azura looked to Ozpin and spoke to the man directly.

"Temporary or not, I want to learn what you deem to be safe to learn."

Ozpin nods. "Excellent. Stand here," He waves to the center of the office, then walks towards his desk. "There are notes of my own that will actually help here."

Azura stands where he was asked to, watching Ozpin go to his desk and collect a journal from a small cupboard. The headmaster flips through the pages swiftly, thumbing one page and stopping there to read for a few moments.

"Right." Ozpin says, tossing the old and worn journal onto his desk before looking at Azura. "The first step is actually the hardest part of it all. And what do you think that first step is?"

"Uh, figuring out how to take Summer out of my body?" Azura asks in a joking manner, having no idea what the answer could be.

Ozpin smirks. "Humorous, but no. The first step is actually looking for Summer's aura. Having her aura signature be known to you is integral to doing this properly."

"Her aura signature?" Azura asks, concern sweeping through his mind. "Wouldn't that be near impossible now?"

"Not near impossible, but rather difficult, yes. That is why I say this will be the hardest step." Ozpin answers. "Her aura signature resides in you, you simply have to find it the source within your own aura."

"But, haven't our auras mixed by now? Isn't that the reason why a permanent separation could likely do devastating damage?"

"They have slightly mixed, but some semblances do similar things. Your semblance is allowing you to use Summer's semblance, if you recall." Ozpin says. "Now, please, take a seat on the floor. I will be watching over your progress. If you require help or guidance, you need only say something."

Azura sits down on the floor, crossing his legs and resting his hands in his lap. He takes a deep breath and exhales it, then closes his eyes to try and investigate his aura. The familiar orange color of his aura and Luna's flare within the darkness that waited for him when he closed his eyes, and a new dark green color moved slowly as measured footsteps were heard. It was Ozpin walking slowly around Azura, as if examining him for progress while he focused.

Azura pushed his thoughts away from the color, trying to look for Summer's aura signature within his own. Summer was quiet, only briefly on the edge of his mind, trying to stay as out of his way as she could to let him not get distracted.

Azura dug and dug to try and find something as seconds turned to minutes. It was almost becoming an endless sea of orange and dark green to him, a blur that wrapped around his visionless investigating eyes. The color was intoxicating to the mind, eventually making him lose his focus and open his eyes with a frustrated sigh, leaning back as he placed his hands behind him and looked to the ceiling. The ticking of the clock that was Ozpin's office seemed taunting of the wasted time.

"Just over five minutes, Azura." Ozpin said with a tap of his cane, behind the teen. "What happened?"

"I saw my own aura color and signature, along with Luna's. I also saw your aura signature, a dark green one." He says, moving one hand to rub his forehead and eyes. "I saw nothing about Summer's aura, only her presence within me. No sign of the famous red aura color at all."

"Hm...this will be harder than I thought, then." Ozpin says, moving slowly to be in Azura's line of sight as he faced forward. "Try it again, but think about Summer while you do so. Concentrate on her."

Azura pushes off the floor to return back to his original position, then closes his eyes once more. He begins to focus on finding Summer's aura again, taking Ozpin's order to think about the woman as he did so. This time, Summer was more prevalent in his mind, surrounding his thoughts.

He remembered his first real encounter with the woman, the tense quiet between them as they speak their first words to each other. Summer attacking him in an attempt to create her own death, the aftermath of Luna attacking Summer in retaliation. Her words to him, pleading for him to kill her, his subsequent words to encourage her to keep going despite death. Their promise to each other, saving his life, their soul bonding, those hazy dream-like memories.

He envisioned a shallow bed of water, as wide as a lake and as shallow as a puddle. Rose petals floated in the water, covering the water in most spots as blossoming trees loomed in patches of land. It was a place he could barely remember, yet was as fresh in his mind as if he had been there only yesterday. The memories that weren't his own flashed in his mind like a lasting reminder of the several years Summer had over him. Laughter with a team on a cliffside, crying and begging to the black-haired woman, a love between two, and the gutting pain of a death that had come too soon.

Azura attempted to dig deeper than that, intent on finding Summer's aura signature within his own. He stepped forward in his mind and water splashed without noise, but as he took his second step, he fell through the water without warning, the feeling of falling without falling rushing through his entire body. He lurched forward, eyes snapping wide as he came back to reality, gasping and sputtering like he had forgotten how to breathe. He took several long seconds to recover before he looked around Ozpin's office and found the headmaster looking at him with a level of concern.

"Azura?"

Azura rubbed his face, slowly standing up. "I'm fine."

Ozpin looked him up and down. "Did something happen?"

"I was back in that weird mental place of water and rose petals...I mean, I was imagining myself in there. As I thought about Summer and she became more fully present in my mind, it brought me there. I instantly lost track of wherever it was leading, though." Azura explains, moving to follow Ozpin as the man turns to look out the window once more. "There was no sign of her aura signature. Are you sure it's there?"

"I do not have an actual answer to that, Azura, even though I wish I did." The man replied. "The soul is a fickle thing, and your semblance even more so. But, that did seem to bring some level of progress, if barely."

Azura looks out the window, the sun beginning to give out to the night sky. "I want to try again."

Ozpin glanced at the boy, who had looked at him. "We'll give it two hours today, then. We can continue when you are ready."

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.(Line Break)

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September 30th

Tuesday

Clear

Azura was seated in Ozpin's office again, eyes closed as he focused on his task. As what had happened only a few days ago, he was struggling to find Summer's aura signature. Both him and Summer have been running through a list of things that might work, only for none of them to be that way. Summer was currently humming quietly, relaxing himself as he kept his semblance running. He could hear Luna and Ozpin quietly playing a game of chess, but he didn't spend any effort to try and think of where they were in the game.

Despite his efforts, however, his focus was broken by the sound of the elevator hitting the top of the tower with a ding. He opened his eyes as Glynda's heels hit the glass with weight and concern, seeing Luna pause and look at the woman as Ozpin did the same. He sighed to himself, standing up to go and see why Glynda seemed so rushed, only to freeze at her words.

"Qrow and Winter are here, fighting!" She said, sounding rather annoyed. "Ironwood is already moving to stop them, but you know Qrow…"

"Yes, I do." Ozpin said, though his words went over Azura's head as Summer's emotions spiked with a level of anxiety.

Azura turns around, holding a hand to his head as he speaks directly to Summer.

"Summer?"

"I…" She began, stopping a moment later.

"Summer, breathe." Azura said to calm her, still finding it odd to say such statements when she possibly didn't need to.

A few moments of silence follow his words before Summer speaks again.

"Right...right." The woman murmured. "I just don't know if I can face him. Not when I can, by all accounts, speak to him through you."

"Think of it like this, Summer. He'll be talking to me, so you don't have to face him beyond what you see in my vision."

"I just hope he sees you, Azura...he only knows two silver-eyed people."

Azura pauses at the mention of the eyes. Even without knowing what exactly Summer was hiding about them, he knew that they meant something. Something about Ozpin when he caught the man's gaze on Summer's eye told him that his thoughts were correct.

"Sees me? You think he'll make the connection?"

Her sigh echoes through his mind. "Maybe. If not for the silver eye, my hair color is still mixed with yours."

Azura nods to himself, agreeing with her. "Are you afraid?"

"Not of Qrow, no. I would never be afraid of him." Summer states. "I just feel that he won't like you.

Azura breathes out a laugh, but is unable to speak to her any further as he feels a cold touch on his back. He turns around to see Luna looking at him with a concerned look on her face, then points in the direction of Ozpin and Glynda, who were looking at him. Glynda was clearly feeling impatient at the moment while Ozpin simply watched him with a particularly knowing look in his eyes.

"Thanks, Luna." He says, smiling for his mother to ease her concern.

He moves forward to join the two adults as they all enter the elevator. Ozpin takes the left wall while Glynda takes the right, leaving Azura with the back wall, with Luna just to his side with a hand around his arm. As they descend, Ozpin looks over to Azura, hands on top of his cane.

"I can tell that Summer is stressed." He says, looking apologetic for a single moment. "I understand why. If you would rather not come with us, that can be arranged. Qrow has just come back from a mission, so any information he has can be told to you at a later point."

Azura felt Summer's anxiety mix with guilt, but there was also a spark of desire to see Qrow in there. With that single feeling in mind, Azura looked at Ozpin and shook his head.

"We'll see him." Azura affirmed.

"Are you sure this is a great idea, Azura?" Glynda voiced from the side. "There's a chance Qrow recognizes you with Summer, and even I don't know what he would do if he did."

Azura shakes his head. "It'd eventually happen. Better to face it head-on."

"As you wish, Azura." Ozpin said as the elevator doors opened up. "Let us be off, then."

They swiftly make way outside of the tower and down the main path of the central hub of the school grounds. Glynda was guiding them as they went, the familiar path leading down towards a large group of people that were crowding around with a sizable gap to give Ironwood and what looked like Penny space. If Azura wasn't busy trying to find Qrow, he'd be surprised by Penny's presence

It was not a long walk, but certainly out of view from Ozpin's tower if you tried to find it. Too many objects in the way of a proper view such as the long and towering archways that loomed over the central section of the walkway. As they closed in on everyone, the conversation became clearer and clearer.

"That's actually not true, she started it." A voice said, deep and scratchy.

The disconnect of the familiarity of the voice and Azura never having heard it before was nearly enough to cause him to trip, but he kept his balance as the crowd parted further for the three of them to pass through.

"Winter, is this true?"

Within the circle made by the crowd, there was a sizable hole in the center, clearly made by combat. Azura glanced around and noticed signs of further combat, such as the destroyed Atlesian robots and splintered trees. He quickly returned his focus to who were the most notable figures in the area, taking in their outfits and weapons.

The white-haired woman with a hair bun, who he could only assume was Winter, was currently stiff-shouldered as Ironwood spoke, arms crossed behind her back as she faced the man. Qrow, just behind her, had a smug look on his face with a more smug smile as his red eyes looked between Ironwood and Winter, resting his head on his hands. He had a tattered and torn cape that ran down his back, a dusty looking dress coat with coattails, and black dress pants and shoes. He had three rings on his right hand, and a crooked cross hung around his neck on a chain.

His hair also seemed to be made of a bird's feathers, black as a crow and just as ragged, currently slicked upwards. His weapon was a large iron-colored sword with a dark hilt, but Azura quickly took note of what appeared to be a mechanism to shift the weapon, which reminded him of Ruby's own mechanism to shift her weapon.

Comparatively, Winter was more regally dressed, garbed in a classic Atlesian specialist outfit, seeming to be tailored to her personal tastes. It certainly lined up with his mother's stories about Atlas and those who defended it. Her outfit consisted mainly of pale blue and white colors, with hints of grey within the designs on them. Black boots, grey pants, and blue undercoat with a white coat were all complimented by a singular splash of red from the ruby brooch that was around her neck wrapped around the coat's collar. Her weapon appeared to be the white and silver-colored saber sword, a crescent guard housing the hilt within.

"Regardless of who started it, I must say it was impressive." Ozpin said, amused by the display. "Though, I would not say Glynda would agree."

"If it were not for my semblance, I'd have fined you both for property damage in an instant." The woman said, displeased. "As it is, however…" She sighs. "I will simply repair it once the crowd has dispersed."

"Oz!" Qrow says, his voice displaying little more than humor. "Long time no…" He narrows in on Azura, finally noticing the boy standing behind Ozpin. "See. Who is that?"

"Someone not involved in this current matter." The headmaster said, stepping in front of Azura. "But it is good to see you, Qrow. I trust you've been well?"

The silence lasts for a couple of uncomfortably long seconds as whispers go through the crowd, and it became downright excruciating when Azura noticed that Ruby and Weiss were just behind Qrow. He awkwardly waved as Ruby caught his eye, receiving one back, but shrunk back at the disappointed gaze from Weiss.

Azura didn't need the confirmation that Weiss was still not happy with him. He seemed to always have something to do with someone, and it didn't seem like that would change.

"Well enough. Don't you think we ought to have this chat somewhere a little more...quiet?" The man replies, scratching the stubble on his chin.

"Yes, of course." Ozpin said. "We can also discuss the...uh...engagement there, hm?" He looks over at Ironwood. "How does that sound?"

The tall general nods. "That sounds wonderful, yes." He looks down at Penny, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Penny, you should go be with your team. I'm sure they are training at this very moment."

"Of course. Thank you, sir." She says, her cheery voice making the title seem more friendly.

Her green eyes turned to look at Azura, a warm look coming to her eyes as she smiled at him. Azura returns the smile, not wanting to come off as unfriendly to the girl he promised friendship to just a few months ago. She quickly walks off in the direction of where training areas had been erected for the Vytal tournament, giving a wave to Ruby and Weiss as she did so.

"Glynda, if you would?" Ozpin asked, glancing at the woman before turning to walk off. "Come, everyone. Glynda will join us after a moment."

As the woman yelled out to the students to disperse, riding crop in hand. The buzz of her semblance was heard as students began to walk off, Ozpin in front with Azura a step behind, feeling awkward to be so far ahead of a group of full adults. He could feel Qrow's gaze burning into him with a suspicious curiosity from just over Winter's shoulder, who strutted just behind him with Ironwood directly at her side.

He could hear Ironwood talking softly to Winter, who had anger written all over her walking. Whatever it was to provoke that fight, she was definitely upset by it. Azura could only hope that she calmed down enough by the time they were in Ozpin's office. If there was something he didn't need to know, it was how much worse Winter's wrath likely was compared to Weiss.

They waited outside of the tower for Glynda to join them, a silence between all of them that once again made Azura rather uncomfortable. It did not feel too great when mixed with Summer's own feelings of nervousness, if he could say. Glynda eventually joined up with them after a minute, and they all silently made their way inside of the tower. They stepped up to the elevator, pausing once more as Ozpin called it.

"Better to go in two groups, yes? Much more comfortable in terms of space." Ozpin said, making light of the awkward silence. "Glynda, Qrow, and myself shall go up first. Then James, Miss Schnee, and Mister Heart shall go up after."

"We'll be waiting." Ironwood said, nodding his head.

Azura was more than glad to wait, wanting to avoid being so close to Qrow at the moment. He looked down and away as the first three entered the elevator, sighing to himself once the doors closed and the sound of the elevator going up was heard. After a moment, Azura heard Winter take a breath and heard the sound of her boots as she looked to Ironwood.

"Sir, if I may…"

"Whatever you have to ask about Azura can be asked to him, Winter."

Azura turned as he heard his name, looking to Winter. He held her icy blue gaze for only a moment before looking away only a bit to have her in sight without staring her down. If Weiss had blue eyes like ice, Winter somehow held colder eyes. She looked him up and down, her stoic gaze narrowing slightly as she did so.

At least she didn't seem as angry. He would take whatever positive he could.

"While it is certainly not the best first impression on my side, it is nice to meet you, Heart."

"You can, uh, you can just call me Azura."

"Oh?" Winter said, a sleek eyebrow raising as she glanced at Ironwood.

"He's one of us, Winter. Knows what you do."

Winter looked back at Azura, her gaze remaining hardened as she stretched a hand out for him. "Then it is nice to meet you, Azura. You may call me Winter, if you would prefer."

Azura almost felt like he did not deserve the right, but tried the name out as he shook her hand. "Winter...it's good to meet you as well."

They removed their hands from the handshake as Winter spoke again. "I will admit, you look rather young. If you do not mind, what is your age?"

Azura blinks, unsure of how his next words would be reacted to. "Oh...um, I'm just seventeen. Eighteen, in a few days."

"Hm." Winter hums, her expression revealing nothing. "Young indeed, then. A first year at Beacon?"

"Yes. A...uh, complimentary member of team Juniper. Though, my record shows me as a member of team Ruby...since my only mission record is with them."

"Team Ruby? Then, you know my sister and her...leader?"

Azura laughs quietly, awkward as could be. "Yes, I do. Weiss and I had...a rocky start, but we've since settled our differences after some time. It was entirely my own fault, so don't think she was mean."

A mere hint of a smile was his reward for his nervous talking. "Then Weiss has made more than one friend, then. I'm pleased to see she has a more...with all due respect, mature friend to speak to."

Azura couldn't really defend Ruby there. She was a great friend, but she was not the most mature one around. It wasn't a bad thing, but it was the definitive truth.

The elevator saves him from a response, dinging its own arrival as the door opens. The three of them enter it, quick to send it back up with them within it. As they rode up, Winter spoke again.

"I hope that our first meeting went better than whatever occurred between you and Weiss. It would be rather unfortunate if my fight with Qrow has tainted anything."

"No, no!" Azura said, shaking his head. "I think you, uh...you're fine." He scratches the back of his head, a smile coming to his face. "Between you and Qrow, you probably have the better introduction. Mostly a joke. Mostly."

"Speaking of," Ironwood stated, breaking up their conversation as he looked at them. "Azura, I trust Qrow with my life, I do...but I am also aware of that circumstance you have, if only barely so." The man's grim expression lightens. "With that said, feel free to stay by Winter while in Oz's office. I doubt either of you will be required to talk, so not only is it the most useful...but Winter will have your back."

"Of course, sir." Winter said, straightening herself more than Azura thought she could. "If that is what you want."

"Thank you, Winter." The man said.

Silence was their company for the rest of the ride, with Luna being the first one out of the elevator once they reached the top. The first thing they see as they all walk into the room is Qrow with a flask in hand as he holds it like a drunken man.

"Oz, I don't see what the issue is here. The kiddies got a wonderful show between two fully trained Huntsmen."

"You still caused property damage, Qrow. I would hope you would consider what you do in public spaces." Goodwitch said, crossing her arms.

"Pfft, property damage, smoperty damage." Qrow says, whirling around as they all fixed their gaze on the three newcomers as they walked forward.

Azura moved to the side slightly with Winter as Ironwood crossed the distance to stand in front of Qrow with a pointed finger.

"If you were one of my men, I'd have you shot for that display!"

Azura's eyes widened, taken aback by the strong words.

"If I was one of your men, I'd shoot myself." Qrow replies, laughing dryly. "Though, with all the military here, I wouldn't have the time to shoot myself before I was shot by those airships and robot armies you have. The hell even happened while I was gone and why did no one inform me?"

"There was no way to know for sure if it would reach you."

"Certainly would have been great! I've seen some shit out the…" Qrow begins to say, raising his scroll slightly, then turns to look at Azura. "And why is this kid still here? Has the world seriously gone mad in my absence?"

Ozpin sighs. "That, my dear bird, is Azura Heart. Most recent addition to the Inner Circle. Whatever you have to say, you may."

"Don't think I'm done with that." The man says, moving back to what he was going to say as he paced away from Ironwood. "Shit's getting real out there, Oz. There's whispers and movement about."

"We know." Ozpin replies. "The CCT was recently hacked."

"You know?" Qrow says, frustration visible in his voice. "I risked my neck out there just to have my information be useless anyway. Just wonderful!"

"You were presumed missing, Qrow." Ironwood says, stepping forward. "We couldn't be sure."

Qrow raises his scroll for real, pointing to it. "You see this? This is a scroll, and that's the send button!"

"Again, there was no way to be su-"

"Communication is a two way street, James."

"General." Winter hissed, fed up with the bird's antics.

"Whatever." Qrow says, waving her off like an adult to a child. "The adults are speaking, maybe take a hint from the weirdo next to you, huh?"

Azura raised an eyebrow at the comment, but made no motion to respond. Not that there was much he could have said as it was, he didn't think being rash would help the situation at all. There was also nothing he could do for Summer's churning emotions spinning around his heart and stomach like it was attempting to escape out of his body and run.

From guilt to anxiety to panic, there were few positives coming from Summer at the moment. It was almost enough to sour Azura's entire mood and his own set of emotions, but he made sure to remain vigilant in his calm demeanor.

"Qrow, hold your tongue." Goodwitch scolded the man like he was a student. "Both Winter and Azura have as much right to be here and speak their minds if they wish."

Qrow grunts, then drinks greedily from his flask. "Well, if we're all done here with the meeting, I have nieces to visit."

The stab of pain from Summer as she remained in complete silence was agonizing to Azura's heart, a mere shadow of her presence being the only sign of her even paying attention. If he didn't know the woman better, Azura would have assumed that she wasn't even listening at all.

"Yes, I suppose that is all that there is to speak of. All of you are dismissed." Ozpin says, looking between the entire group in the office. "All of you...except Qrow and Azura."

"Oh boy, this'll be good." Qrow says aloud with a snark that was neither angry or unfriendly, but definitely not friendly.

Azura bites his lip, sucking in the air as he tries to prepare himself for whatever could happen.

A small, almost gentle, but not quite friendly hand touches his shoulder for a single second before sliding off as Azura looks to Winter. Her ice blue eyes, much too similar to Weiss' for his liking, locked to his dual-colored eyes with a brief look of some incomprehensible emotion deep within the stoic face. He unfortunately could not decipher what her intention was, given that he's known the woman for all of twenty minutes or so and from only one conversation.

Still, he nods with a minute smile on his face to show his gratitude for the relatively small gesture. Those were the ones he always appreciated the most, given the rarity of them in his life. Most people always made it a bigger deal to make their friendliness and affection known to him but he shook his head to make those thoughts go away.

Thoughts weren't going to save him from this next moment as everyone shuffled out to leave the office, receiving a single look from Goodwitch on her way out. With her concern in mind, Azura stood where he was with as much confidence as he could muster. The seconds go past as his heartbeat thuds, the ticking of the clock matching the beat within his ears as silence screeches from every angle.

He closes his eyes, breathing out softly as he feels the fingers on his left hand twitch and shake. Summer was panicking, so he did what he could to calm himself, and by proxy, calm Summer down to some degree. She had not said a word for a while, but flaring emotions was more than enough for him to get an idea of what was going on in her head.

"So, tell me, Oz...who the hell is the kid, for real?" Qrow asked, breaking the silence with his rough voice.

"His name is Azura Heart, first year of Beacon." Ozpin explains, sighing as he glances at the boy. "He has quite an interesting story, if I must say. One that...had quite the turn."

"I don't have time for these sorts of answers." The ebony-haired man growled, taking a swig from his flask. "Just tell me why he looks like Ruby. What's his deal, his semblance?"

"I was getting to that." Ozpin answers cooly, his composure a complete 180 to Qrow's. "His semblance was named Coexistence, as coined by him, and it allows him to talk to and interact with ghosts around him. You and I knew it by another name, however. We've seen a case of this before."

"The ghost vision lady?" Qrow asks, talking to himself momentarily as he shook his head. "You telling me that bull about the semblance not being naturally made within a person was real? That this is the same thing?"

"No, not the same thing. While Folina could see ghosts and interact like him, she merely played as a guide and...well, we saw what she did in combat."

Azura felt not just out of place in the conversation, but it weirded him out to hear about this woman who supposedly had a semblance that was similar to his. It certainly gave him some food for thought.

"But," Ozpin continues. "Unlike her, Azura actually speaks with and can give these ghosts a physical presence within our world. We can see them." He nods to him. "If you would like to show it off, Azura?"

"Of course." He replies, pulling his aura up to activate his semblance as Luna reveals herself in Qrow's face.

The man takes a step back in surprise, waving a hand in front of him to get her out of his face. The woman had a sharp look in her eyes, ears pointed and tail flicking with an irritation.

"Mother, calm yourself, please." Azura called to her, moving to be by her side. "You don't need to defend me, Qrow is a...uh…"

"So long as she keeps her distance, I am more than okay with your dead mother, kid." Qrow says, his red eyes keeping sight on Luna. "You're the issue I have, I'll be entirely honest."

"Which, if you'll give me a moment, I will explain." Ozpin interjects, gaining their attention once more. "You might want to sit down for this one, Qrow."

"Just get on with it." The man replies defensively, crossing his arms.

"There was an incident at the docks some months ago, one involving Azura, two students from other schools, and Blake Belladonna from your niece's team." The headmaster begins, waving his arm for some effect. "During that, for one reason or another, something triggered within Azura's semblance while being attacked...and a very particular ghost ended up merging with him, as if through some form of possession."

"What does this have to do with his appearance?"

"Do not play dumb, Qrow. Do you not hear it within his voice? The soft lilt wrapped around the voice of Azura?" The grey-haired man asks, looking Qrow down. "You know who he is now tied to. He deals with ghosts, Qrow...who else do you know with that hair color, that eye color?"

"No." Qrow retorts, shaking his head. "There's no way I believe that."

"It's the truth." Azura said, speaking as confidently as he could among Summer's turmoil. "Summer Rose is...well, inhabiting my body, so to speak."

"You're in on this bullshit, then, huh?" Qrow growled, stepping towards the boy. "This is some twisted joke you have, you know nothing about her!"

Luna, still visible, floated in front of Azura with her sword drawn as she stared him down. Qrow pauses, giving Azura time to speak again. The boy wasn't shaken up by the man coming to possibly grab him in anger, but he was eternally grateful to Luna for the assist.

"I know that she's been dead for nearly a decade. I know that she was your partner in team Stark. I know pieces of who Raven and Taiyang are, and I know of...no, I lived within the moment of her death." He says, trying to prove a point. "As much as she hides her thoughts and memories in my head, I can feel her emotions as if they were my own. And do you know what she's feeling right now?"

Qrow's silence was telling, though it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

"She's happy to see you, but she's also anxious, and feels guilty." Azura continues, letting the ethereal cloak of Summer Rose unfurl as it appeared. "She doesn't know what to do and say to someone she sees, but cannot actively speak to."

"Azura." Ozpin called.

"And she certainly knows what it must feel like to you. She's seen your pain and always tried to help in any way her ghostly form could, even if you've never seen it!"

"Azura." The headmaster called once more, putting weight behind the name.

"She misses you as much as you miss her!" Azura nearly yelled, his voice becoming more heavily like Summer's.

"Azura!" Ozpin spoke again, forcefully this time. "That will be enough."

Azura turned away, brushing the wetness out of Summer's silver eye as he reigned himself in. He had let Summer's emotions get the better of him and influence his own emotions.

"Sorry, sir."

The man sighs. "That is quite alright." He then looks to Qrow. "Do you finally see her in him, Qrow? She's there, listening to this entire conversation in the back of his mind."

Qrow shakes his head. "I'm not drunk enough for this."

He began to walk off for the elevator, which awaited the next person to use it. He enters it, taking a swig from his flask as he turns around. His red eyes reminded him of Raven's, only much easier to see without a helmet in the way.

"Just stay out of my way, kid. I don't need you bringing the past back."

The elevator doors closed after, the sound of the metal pulling down as it slid down towards the bottom of the tower. Azura sighs, looking over at Ozpin as he deactivates his semblance, the cloak and Luna both fading back and away.

"That...could have gone better. That was my fault."

"No, I cannot expect you to not react that way. There's...a lot of history that you are not involved in, but forced to act as if you were." Ozpin replies tiredly. "Putting Qrow and the implications of your new...er, relationship as both being in the Inner Circle, it happened again. Summer began to overtake your own voice."

"It wasn't too different to the last time this happened, I promise. I just let her emotions overwhelm me."

"If you are sure that is the case, then I will not keep you here. You may leave."

Azura nods, turning to walk towards the very same elevator that Qrow had taken. He pressed the button to call the elevator, waiting in silence as Ozpin simply watched him. As the doors opened up, Ozpin called out to Azura.

"Azura?"

"Hm?" The boy in question hummed, turning his head to look at the headmaster.

"Try to not let Qrow keep you down. He...I should have made more of an effort to brace him for it."

"That's okay. You should be worrying more about Summer, in that case, though." Azura replied, flashing a smile. "Thanks for the concern."

"That's not…" He begins, pausing as he then slowly shakes his head. "Keep your friends close, Azura. They'll be there for you."

"I planned to do just that."

"Good, good." Ozpin says, looking like he had more to say. "That is all, then. Come by my office tomorrow, at the same time. There is more training to be done."

Azura nodded, then remembered a certain piece of information that the headmaster had said.

"If I may, the woman who had a semblance very similar to mine...who is she?"

"Her name is Folina Silva, and she's a...rather complicated person. Dark history and mysterious entry in my long life, with one of the most terrifying semblances I've seen."

Azura frowns. "What does it do?"

Ozpin looks down, taking a drink from his long forgotten mug. "Perhaps another day, Azura. I must get to finalizing these Vytal tournament documents, and you likely need to return to young Aurora, hm?"

"Right, of course." Azura replies, wondering what he was hiding about this Folina figure. "Goodbye, professor. Have a good night."

"You as well, Azura. You as well."

.

.(Chapter End)

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A brief entrance and a hasty exit, the dusty bird goes. Don't you worry, I have more than enough reason to write Qrow! Our handsome man with the crooked luck isn't out after a single appearance. Also, I hope you enjoyed the surprisingly early appearance of him and Winter! They are an interesting pair to write, but also unfortunately hard to write together, since they both demand the attention in a conversation, so to speak.

Have a great day/evening!