KS: You know what time it is? Time for more late night chapter updates.

Things managed to calm down after Jaune and Lilac's fight. After he was restrained for a half hour, the blonde knight was able to settle down. Even though he was no longer raging, he still held contempt towards Lilac. All those things he said about what happened during Beacon's fall, Pyrrha's fate being the main factor, continued to burn in his mind. He might have been calm now, but he would soon make Lilac eat every disrespectful word he said. It was just a matter of time.

"We should be close to the ruin now," Lilac said. "I tell you, we're going to be in for a treat. I can almost imagine the amount of treasure lying in there."

"Oooh, are gonna find rare armor?" Nora beamed with excitement. "Maybe find some rings that will increase our power! No wait, a legendary sword~!"

Ren sweatdropped awkwardly at his childhood friend's enthusiasm. "Let's not get our hopes up, Nora. There isn't a concrete possibility the ruin will contain that kind of treasure."

"Aw, try to live a little," Nora replied while jabbing him with her elbow. "We won't know until we get there."

"All I am saying is that we shouldn't get our hopes up-"

"Sounds like you don't think there'll be treasure in there."

"That's not what I meant."

Ruby, Qrow and Lilac watch as Nora and Ren bicker amongst themselves.

"Those two sure get along," Lilac said in a dry tone.

Ruby let out a nervous giggle. "They're usually like that. You get used to it."

"Hopefully, it won't attract any Grimm," Qrow mused. "The last thing we need is another reason to attract them.

Jaune let out an annoyed huff and walked ahead of the group, which caught the attention of Nora and Ren.

"Jaune, wait up!" the hammer-wielder shouted as she chased after her leader, Ren quickly following suit.

"Still think what happened was a good idea?" Qrow asked Lilac.

"I don't remember saying it was a good idea," the young man replied with a shrug. "I did to make him let out whatever was boiling inside of him."

"And yet, he still looks as if he's harboring some hate," Qrow mused.

Ruby walked ahead of the two. "Let's go and get to the ruin, already. We're burning daylight here."

She ran after the three that went ahead, leaving Qrow and Lilac alone.

"I'm just going to say it," the lavender-haired man said. "I would rather be alone with a beautiful woman in this scenario."

Qrow took out his flask and drank from it. "You and me both, pal."

It didn't take long for the group to finally reach the ruin, and when they did, it was a sight to behold. A large Eastern-styled temple with statues of armored warriors slaying various monsters decorated the path leading to the entrance, which had a stained glass picture of a beautiful woman in a kimono holding a bouquet of flowers above it.

"This temple must have been cared for before it was abandoned," Ren complimented. "The attention to detail is nothing short of impeccable."

Nora's eyes sparkled at the sight. "I can almost hear the treasure… I wanna get in there."

Ren walked towards the steel door and pushed it, but it wouldn't budge. "It won't open. Maybe this isn't the way in."

Jaune stepped forward and gave it a more forceful push, but nothing happened. "Do we have to force our way in here?"

"I doubt it," Qrow mused, lightly feeling the door. "Judging from how this thing is built, no amount of firepower could blow it off the hinges."

Nora looked at Maghild and sighed. "What are we supposed to do if we can blast it."

Ruby gave the door a closer look. She focused her gaze at a particular part of the door, one that stood out from the structure.

Qrow noticed her pensive look. "What caught your eye, kid?"

"I think I see a way to open the door," she said.

Everyone perked up when she said that.

"Please tell me you're not pulling everyone's leg right now," Nora said in a pleading tone. "Share what you know with us, girl!"

Ruby chuckled awkwardly at her enthusiasm and regained her composure. "Okay, let's start off with the door itself. Does anyone notice something about it?"

"Apart from the fact that it looks like it could withstand an explosion?" Lilac asked sarcastically.

Ruby shot him a flat look. "Yes, that."

Lilac shrugged and looked at the door. "Well, now that I see it, it looks like there's a picture of a fox on the door."

"I can see it as well," Ren added. "This door has the image of a fox sculped on it. Though I've never seen a fox with nine tails on it."

"Forget the tails for a second," Ruby said. "Look towards the bottom of the door, where its head would be."

The group looked down to see the fox's head, only to find something bizarre.

"I'm no animal expert, but I know for a fact that a fox's head isn't supposed to look like that," Qrow said.

The fox's head appeared to be scrambled and disconnected.

"That's not all," Jaune cut in, pointing to where the head should be. "There are some weird circles down here. What are they used for?"

There were five circular grooves around the head, which seperated its portions. In the center was a yellow gem that shined brightly.

"What are we supposed to do with that?" Nora asked.

Ruby touched the space between the grooves and felt the circle slightly. "Oh, I see it now."

"What do you see?" Lilac asked.

"These circles were twisted around so the head looks like it's been seperated into different parts," Ruby explained. "But if I adjust them to where they were before, it should look like a head again."

And so, Ruby moved each circle to it's original location, perfectly forming the head of the fox.

"Okay, the fox looks complete," Jaune said. "Now what?"

"Maybe we're supposed to stare at the door some more," Nora joked. "I mean, it's not like it'll eventually open up, right?"

Much to her and everyone's surprise, rumbling was heard from the door, which soon began to decend into the ground, allowing them entry into the temple.

"Well, it's open to us," Qrow said. "Let's not stand around with our jaws hanging low."

(Uncharted 2: Among Thieves OST: The Monastery)

Everyone agreed wordlessly and walked through the door. Once they did, their breaths were stolen from them as they saw the interior. The floorboards still looked new despite being around for over a decade, and the hall was adorned with large statues of a fox surrounded by rings of fire. There were also pictures of men and women in strange armor that covered them from head to toe, wielding swords and firearms of unique design. Most of the pictures showed them wielding both at the same time.

"There are no words that could begin to describe how beautiful this ruin is," Ren said.

"It's been around longer than any of us were born," Nora added. "I feel like I'm a princess from a long gone era."

Ruby stared a picture on the wall featuring a fighter wielding a weapon that looks like a pistol combined with a dagger. "I had no idea the Aurum had cool stuff."

"Yeah, it's cool alright," Lilac said. "No one has been able to get their hands on weapons these complex before. Some say most of the weapons used today were inspired by what the Aurum had way back when."

"Hold on a minute," Qrow interjected. "How could people be inspired by the Aurum to build mixed weapons of their own when they've never seen what the original models look like?"

Lilac shrugged dismissively. "Maybe they looked at a design in an old book or something. I'm not sure of the details myself, but I've heard the occasional rumor."

"You sure sound confident for believing in a rumor," Ruby deadpanned.

"I know my sources," Lilac defended. "They've never steered me wrong before."

"Whatever," Nora said. "Let's explore this place some more!"

(End song)

They continued to walk around in the temple, discovering an additional floor that had even more pictures of armored warriors, as well as displays of the weapons they used. Ruby couldn't help but drool at the sight of such advanced craftmanship, which did not go unnoticed by the others.

"She's like a kid in a candy shop," Nora commented.

"For our sake, I hope she doesn't get her saliva on the artifacts presented," Ren sighed. "They all appear priceless."

Qrow sighed at his niece's overenthusiasm. "Ruby, you mind not fogging up the exhibit? We might get a fine or something."

Ruby scoffed. "Who's gonna fine us? Nobody has been around here for years."

Nora grew a mischievous grin. "Sure, nobody's been here… nobody alive, that is."

Ruby instantly paled. "W-What are you talking about?"

"Oh, I think we all know what I'm talking about," Nora said, her grin widening.

"She thinks there's ghosts here," Lilac interjected with a flat tone.

Nora playful expression was replaced with an annoyed glare that she directed towards the criminal. "Couldn't let me have a bit of fun, could you?"

"There's a time and place for screwing around with people," Lilac replied. "This is not one of them. Not unless you want to get shot in the back just because you wanted to look funny taking advantage of another person's hyperactive imagination."

Everyone stared flatly at Lilac before he spoke again.

"And in case any of you are wondering, that did happen to me a few times in the past. I still feel the bullet wounds in my butt."

"Hold on," Qrow said. "I thought you were shot in the back for joking around."

Lilac awkwardly chuckled. "The guy who shot me originally planned to shoot me in the back, but decided to shoot my ass just for the hell of it."

"Probably gave him a good reason, knowing how much you shoot your mouth off."

Everyone turned to Jaune, who was staring at a longsword with a bitter expression.

"Although, knowing you, I'm surprised he aimed for your butt and not your head." He turned to him with a fierce glare. "That is how people in your group operate, isn't it?"

"Jaune…" Ruby said in a pleading tone.

Lilac sighed, having a good idea of why the knight was mad at him. "I take it you're still pissed off about what I said earlier?"

"If I was, I'd beat you down again," Jaune growled.

"You got lucky, kid," Lilac scoffed. "No sense in getting an inflated ego over using an underhanded move."

Jaune grinned smugly. "I thought you speciallized in underhanded moves, given your line of work."

"Jaune," Ruby interrupted. "Don't provoke him."

"No, no, let him continue," Lilac said, walking up to Jaune. "I was hoping my therapy session from earlier would get him to unearth some anger, but it seems that I've missed a few spots."

Jaune grit his teeth. "Oh, you'll be seeing a lot of spots once I knock you out."

Lilac laughed out loud. "You… you really think you can knock me out? You actually believe that?"

Nora threw her arms up in frustration. "This guy really sucks when it comes to reading the mood."

"An understatement if I've ever heard one," Ren sighed in response.

Lilac ignored their comments to focus on Jaune. "What do you say, champ. Hit me with your best shot."

"With pleasure," Jaune said, clenching his fist and drawing his arm back. When he did, his elbow knocked the longsword off the pedastal, causing it to fall to the floor. He quickly turned around to see the ancient weapon laying on the ground.

"This is getting off to a great start," Qrow deadpanned.

Jaune was about to reply, but suddenly, the floor beneath him suddenly gave way, causing him to fall into a hole.

"Jaune!"

This shocked the group as they rushed to the hole, but the they didn't make it in time as the floor suddenly closed up, sealing Jaune into whatever pit he had fallen into.

"What just happened?" Nora said in a panicked tone. "Where did Jaune go?"

"I-I have no idea," Ren replied in a similar tone. "Who know a temple could have such a dastardly mechanism?"

Ruby just stared at the floor, her mind filling with dread. Jaune had fallen through an opening, but nobody present knew where it led. That is, if it lead anywhere.

"We need to find him," she said, getting everyone's attention.

"How are going to do that?" Qrow asked. "This joint isn't what I would call small."

"We'll split up," Ruby suggested. "We cover each and every inch of this temple until we find something that looks the lease bit suspicious.

"Sounds good," Lilac said, walking down the hallway. "I'll check out this spot over here and holler when I eye something weird."

The other stare as he walked off.

"I hope he's aware he's partially responsible for this," Ren said with laced venom.

"It doesn't matter now," Ruby said. "We need to look around the temple. The sooner we do that, the sooner we find Jaune."

They nodded in agreement and proceed to split up. They were determined to find the knight before anything worse happened to him.

But little do they know… their search would lead to something even more sinister.

KS: Looks like things took a turn for the unexpected. They better find Jaune before things get even more hairier then they are now.