Salem and Glynda walked together through the empty grounds of Beacon, with the latter seemingly more relaxed around the former now. In fact, she seemed to have become more casual around Salem. She must've been a trusted adjutant of Ozpin's, so Salem would also trust her with her life. The apartment was located within one of the tall blocks that made up Beacon's dormitories. Upon entering, Salem was greeted by a beautifully-decorated hallway. Velvet-covered couches sat in special cots, beautiful paintings lined the walls, artisanal chandeliers and lamps hanged, lighting the beautiful walls, panels of black wood lined the lower half of the walls, while on the top half, grey-black marble resided. The rugs were also red velvet.
It was awe-inspiring, what Ozma, err... Ozpin had done, building up this place into a respected place of teaching for the students meant to defend mankind. She was proud that he maintained his ideals, even to the day they found themselves in. She knew not what time she was exactly in, at what point in the future, but as sure as the rivers reached the seas, back in his arms, she was again. And her smile hadn't faded since they hugged again.
"You seem fairly happy to be back with him." Glynda observed.
"Dear miss Goodwitch, you haven't the faintest idea how joyous I am. It is my Ozma in that tower and I can not wait to spend more time with him." Salem beamed at her newly found comrade. "And I will do my best to aid you in whatever future teaching endeavors you have, miss Goodwitch. Provided I am assigned any job regarding that. To be quite frank, I'd love to have a job in teaching..."
"Oh?"
"I've..." Salem blushed, embarrassed "Always wanted children of my own."
"Oh..."
Glynda hummed. This was Salem. A blissfully unaware, unsure of the truth Salem, who knew not what kind of Shadow War her beloved had been fighting for the better part of his millennia of life. She was still a child. A woman with childlike curiosity and behavior that contrasted the stories that Ozpin had told of her, perhaps corrupted, version. Glynda had to remind herself that that same woman cursed herself, Remnant and Ozpin to this damnable war so long ago. She hated she had to think of that.
This Salem seemed kind, loving, motherly even. Completely the opposite of how Ozpin had painted her hostile counterpart. She felt bad, knowing full well Ozpin needed to reveal the truth to her. The whole truth. And Glynda didn't know how that would shatter Salem's world view and much more, her view of herself. The Headmistress of Beacon, aid to the man who had the world on his shoulders, had found this girl alone, afraid, perhaps unable to think straight after whatever sent her here had left her so unceremoniously.
No, she'd found her drinking tea at a cafe. A good samaritan must have helped Salem before walking off on their own. A commendable initiative, to see someone afraid and want to help them. Glynda's smile came back for a moment. Hmm, perhaps she should offer her own apology to Salem. Turning to the girl, Glynda asked "Miss Salem, do you want to go back to Vale to visit it later today?"
"Ooh! Perhaps we can stop by that shop where I had that delicious tea!" Salem smiled broadly yet again "And perhaps I could meet that girl that helped me again... Oh..." She sighed, bowing her head. A quirked brow from Glynda asked what had saddened the young woman so and her answer came in a murmur "... I feel awful... I forgot the girl's name..."
"Oh..." Glynda sighed, rubbing the back of her neck "Perhaps, in the heat of the moment, you may have simply forgotten?"
Salem sighed too, looking to the floor "Yes, I'm afraid." Then her smile returned as she perked up and called out "Ooh! Perhaps we can meet her again!"
"Maybe seeing her face would help you, yes." Glynda chuckled. "Well, I should go talk to the Headmaster about a possible outing, though I don't see why he'd object."
"I would love to visit Vale with you, miss Goodwitch. Thank you for the offer." Salem beamed at her new friend. A smile so contagious even the combat teacher took to it. She bid her goodbyes to Salem, to go toward Ozpin's tower and talk to him and leave the woman to, well, Glynda wanted to think she'd unpack, but then she realized Salem must've arrived here with nothing but the clothes on her back and the shoes on her feet.
The trip up with the Tower's elevator was short, as Glynda racked her brain to figure out how to ask Ozpin so many of her questions. Yet, when the door opened, she saw the Headmaster on his feet, staring outward to the school and Vale itself. But this time, instead of his stiff, stern posture, the one Glynda was so used to, she saw his cane resting on the desk, while his cup was in his hand and a smile was plastered wide across his face.
She, too, smiled at the man for a moment, before clearing her throat. The Headmaster twitched and a single droplet of his coffee hit the floor. He turned to Glynda, then nodded "Miss Goodwitch."
"Headmaster..." Glynda said, approaching the desk. She looked over to where the coffee stain and the shards had once been, then said "You cleaned it up yourself?"
"It was the least I could do." He offered, setting his cup on the coaster on his desk and asking "Anything I can do for you?"
Glynda hummed, then looked to the Headmaster. She had to admit, seeing him so calm for a change was a boon to Glynda's own morale. The man had been there, a teacher and then a headmaster at Beacon since Glynda was in her late teens, having joined Beacon then. Giving him a nod, the Headmistress of Beacon spoke "I wish to take lady Salem out for a visit through Vale. I know it has been less than a few hours since her arrival and, as I figure, she may need to learn points of interest in the city."
"I see." Ozpin nodded "It's approved."
"I am going to-Wait, what...?" Glynda paused. "I'd have thought you-"
"Would want to keep an eye on Salem in case this is a trick she's playing? A trap? Glynda, you know me too well. While yes, I would have preferred to do that had I felt something wrong about her, a feeling of uneasiness, or of magical persuasion, I felt nothing out of the ordinary, at least not with how I once knew her. It was my Salem." He offered a calm, calculated and direct response regarding the woman. When usually asked about Salem, he would deflect. This time?
He was honest. And Glynda didn't know how to feel about it.
"The same woman you've been fighting a war against, Ozpin. I don't think I know the full story, or your actual relationship with Salem herself. At least not with this version of her." The woman explained, looking with a bit of disbelief at the Headmaster. The man's smile was genuine, calm. It was odd to Glynda, since he so rarely smiled, yet there he was. She sighed "I... Presume you will fill me in on the whole story too?"
"Of course." Nodded Ozpin. "After briefing Salem about the current situation in the world, I will call you up so we may all discuss my past relation to her."
Glynda hummed. He was... Unusually honest. She hummed as worry crossed both her mind and face, then asked "Are you going to tell her about herself? The one you've been fighting?"
He hesitated, then shook his head "Not yet. Perhaps when the time is right, but not yet. I do not want to ruin her joy of being home with news that an evil variation of her is the person I've been fighting with, Glynda... Will you?"
"No. I was actually thinking much the same." She answered, crossing her arms to her chest. Ozpin's smile returned.
"Then we are on the same page."
"Yes. Yes we are." Glynda smiled back. She hummed, then said "I should also ask about acquiring a Scroll for her. She may need it."
"I will transfer the Lien necessary for the purchase to your account, Glynda. Make sure you teach her how to properly use it. At least its call function, if nothing else." The Headmaster noted "And insert your number into it, in case she will need somebody to ring in case of trouble." And, with two taps on his holo-computer's keyboard, a ping came from Glynda's Scroll. He gave his approving nod, then said "Thank you for letting me know of your outing, miss Goodwitch."
"My pleasure, headmaster... Oh, one more thing." She turned from the door and said "May I suggest having her shadow other teachers when the first Semester starts? To have her learn how to act in class and learn what needs to be learnt... After you explain to her the current ongoing life of Remnant." receiving another affirmative answer from the Headmaster. She bid goodbye to him, taking the elevator back down.
After a trip to talk to Salem-and the exultation which the woman showed at their trip being approved-the two ladies of Beacon found themselves aboard the Bullhead heading for the landing pad on Main Street. The two began their leisurely stroll at the base of the platform, heading down Main Street itself, with Salem humming to herself a song, but otherwise sitting silently.
The boutiques, stores, cafes and restaurants of Main Street were vibrant and alive with the coming and going citizens of Vale as they went about their lives. Young couples and even families were sat on the terraces of the restaurants, enjoying food, small-talk and life in general. The girls paused every once in a while at a shop or boutique, for Salem to look through the glass at the assortment of products that they had, ranging from sweets to clothing. Yes, Salem was very much still a youngster to some degree.
As they walked further down the road, Glynda spoke "This must be very new to you."
"Oh, positively. And it is incredible! Beautiful even! Such a vibrant city, so advanced and yet so full of people. I have a feeling I will very much enjoy my stay in Vale." The woman still showed her childlike wonder and joy. Yes, Glynda surely had ask that question, since it hadn't been clear beforehand that a woman from way in the past wouldn't find this place very new to her.
As the two walked on, down Main Street, Salem broke the silence between them with a simple question. "So... Miss Goodwitch, what is it you exactly do for the Headmaster?"
"Oh? Me? I'm his second-in-command, if you will, on all matters pertaining Vale and Beacon. I also teach as combat instructor in the school, as I do believe I told you." Glynda spoke as they passed by a toy store, from which Kids looked outward to the pair of ladies. Some of the gentlemen gave good mornings to the two from the tables near by a cafe.
Salem hummed, then smiled again "I see... A commendable action, teaching the young how to defend themselves and their loved ones."
"Indeed. I was lucky that I and a friend of mine were hired almost immediately after school by the Headmaster, since we did belong to Beacon's alumni." Glynda spoke as they rounded a corner, right onto the street that, Glynda now realized, Salem had landed in. The women were approaching her exact landing spot, so Glynda chose to stop for a moment in front of a Scroll store, looking into the window. Thankfully, the patrons inside showed it was open.
"Oh? I hope to meet your friend, miss Goodwitch." Salem seemed genuine in saying that. Glynda snorted, since she had to admit, her own friend would probably have enjoyed meeting-and studying-Salem, since Magic was as rare as a Hunstman Veteran not on a mission nowadays. Once she would come back from her maternity leave, perhaps, Glynda could introduce Salem to her.
"Violet is a tad more... Eccentric... Than me, lady Salem." She added.
A raised brow from Salem. "So?"
"So she may seem a bit odd upon first meeting, but she should provide plenty of insight into one of the many things you'll encounter during your stay in Beacon. That being Dust." She shrugged, looking over the multitude of Scroll types laying on display. Salem seemed distracted as they spoke, gazing up at the Bullheads flying overhead instead of at the scrolls. However, she quickly turned to Glynda at the mention of the mineral... Probably curious.
"'Dust'? I do remember you mentioning it, but what an odd name it has... What is it?" She asked, approaching Glynda's side.
"Dust, well... It's a naturally occurring set of minerals within nature, each with its own properties. They are usually tied to one of the elements, such as Earth, Water, Fire and Air, with mixes in-between creating different, more powerful types of Dust, all of which are utilized in everything from heating our homes, to the vehicles you saw moving around and even our weapons." The Huntress laid out as barebones an explanation as she could give. Though Salem's expression of piqued interest told her that Violet and her would very much get along.
"Ooh. Sounds powerful. Almost magical even." The girl smiled a dangerous smile.
Her Valeian counterpart chuckled "Yes, well, some would consider wielding Nature's anger in the form of a crystal 'magic'."
"And your friend is knowledgeable in it?" Salem then asked
"Violet Peach is, indeed, one of the most proficient people in Dust, both in its normal and theoretical uses. I don't think I exaggerate when I say that she's much of the reason we have so many varied uses for Dust ammunition today in Beacon." The Headmistress explained, arranging her glasses and looking to the girl. She spoke "Now, lady Salem, I do have to say we should probably acquire you a Scroll."
"A... Uhm... With all due respect, miss Goodwitch, I do not see how a piece of paper would assist me aside from perhaps the usual writing on it..." The woman hummed.
"Aha. No, no, it's not that kind of Scroll." Glynda smirked. She tilted her head toward the shop they stood in front of and Salem then looked at the myriad of colors on display. Glynda opened her own Scroll, running her fingers over the screen to unlock it. She showed it to the very curious Salem, then explained "This is a communication device. A small computer, powerful enough to send and receive calls and written messages akin to the handwritten letters of ages past. Though some people do still keep correspondence via letters, they have mostly been phased out by this."
"And yet again..." Salem's smile broadened as she looked at the small device "Technology awes me by its seeming simplicity and underlying complexity... Today's Remnant is amazing."
"it surely is. Now, come on with me. The Headmaster offered me the funds with which to buy you one. I will be putting in my own number in case of emergency, as well as the Headmaster's." And she lead Salem inside. After about twenty minutes of dilly-dallying between a white Scroll and a lilac one, Salem finally chose the latter as her personalized device. And as they walked out of the store, the woman had started learning the little tech piece's many marvels.
"I see you're quite enamored by your Scroll already." Glynda observed.
"Such a small piece, carrying such an entertainment value... It's amazing..." The woman said, starting to install multiple games on it. Thankfully, they were free ones, since Salem still had no money to her own name. Glynda chuckled... Of course, she was gonna be cooperating with her and the other teachers of Beacon It was going to be an interesting time, having a magician work with them.
"I'll head on ahead to the Market, to buy some fruits for your home." Glynda offered.
"Thank you..." Salem responded, still focused on her Scroll. Glynda let out a light laugh, before heading ahead. Salem walked forward, trying not to bump into anyone as she worked on the Scroll. It was indeed an amazing piece of human ingenuity, as far as technology went. As she stepped forward further, near the corner of the intersection she had first found herself in, she nearly tripped, feeling something underfoot...
She stumbled, doubled over and caught herself just before she fell, only to notice where she was. Indeed, this was the very place she had landed in. The intersection where her first contact with Vale had begun. And whatever she'd stepped on, she didn't know. She gazed down at the item, only to lock eyes with a shining, crystal shaped in the form of a rhomboid, with about a dozen faces. It shimmered a faint scarlet, power pulsing through it...
The moment Salem put her hand on it, a hundred visions assailed her. A voice whispered in her ears words not understood by her and the crystal let its power flow into her open hand, as if awaiting a handshake. The young woman staggered, leaning against the wall behind her as the visions and the headache induced by them slowly vanished, looking at the item in her hands with pointed interest. She hid it in the brim of her dress, then looked around. Noticing the market Glynda spoke of, the young woman quickly stepped that way, unsure of what she had just felt, seen or heard...
All she knew was that this crystal called her name. It called her. And it wasn't by chance that she'd run into, or, better said, stepped on it.
Something was afoot here... She would talk to Ozpin about it back at home.