Chapter-26

Ruby

Ruby and the others glared at Perseus, while Mercury grinned and waved.

"Hm, they really don't like you." Assassin spoke as Perseus nodded. "Not surprising." He spoke as Ruby, Weiss and Yang stepped protectively in front of Blake. They could see that this 'Assassin' was their target. But even then, they were aware that Perseus wanted to kill Blake.

He has no shame. Ruby thought. She remembered being told how Professor Saber almost died because Perseus used her as leverage. It sickened her, that Perseus was so heartless as to kill children.

"How much do we have, Perseus?" Assassin asked.

"Well, our main force has been shattered thanks to the Hydra. Now, can we please move onto my suggestion?"

Assassin frowned. "Very well." She spoke with a hint of irritation. "But before that…you could complete your assignment."

"…I can. Mercury, Emerald. Take whatever we have to Cysgod. You know what to do."

"Wha…but I…" Another chain shot forward, stopping right in front of Mercury's nose and silencing him.

"Don't waste more time, child." Assassin spoke as Mercury raised his hand with a sigh. "Spoilsport. Come on, Emerald." He spoke before he and Emerald walked off.

"Now, before we begin, I suppose you came here to kill me?" Assassin asked as Team RWBY stared at her in surprise.

"What? No!" Ruby spoke up as Assassin was silent before she chuckled. That chuckle turned into full-blown laughter.

"Really? You had to have heard from Tristan that I am the sole reason these shadow servants are attacking. But to maintain secrecy, he didn't even tell you how you were going to take me down, did he?"

Weiss stared at Tristan, who was still laying on the ground because of the poison.

"Even then, it should have been obvious." Assassin spoke.

"T-That's…" Ruby tried to speak up before Assassin looked at Professor Port.

"Look at your teacher. Even he figured it out!" She spoke as Ruby turned to Professor Port.

Professor Port stared at Ruby's pleading eyes, his expression showing nothing.

Please don't tell me its true… Ruby thought. Why didn't she realize what Tristan wanted to do? She couldn't kill someone! Even if Assassin is the reason for the shadow servants, she couldn't just do that. Hunstmen aren't supposed to shed the blood of people, only grimm.

"Ms. Rose." Professor Port spoke as Ruby felt a sense of dread. "Killing is the only option here. You all were only First-years, and I didn't want you four to see it."

"So you kept this from us?" Yang asked with an edge in her voice as Professor Port sighed. "The lesson of morality and killing is something I only impart to the fourth-years. To let them know the truth of what they will have to do as huntsmen and huntresses, so that they have at least some preparation for the emotional turmoil they'll go through when they take the life of another. I don't want to encourage my students to become killers, but I also don't want my students to go into the world unprepared for its harsh realities. I let my younger students enjoy the bliss of ignorance, especially the first-years. I know you four are angry, but please understand it was for your good."

"That's…I can't…" Weiss stuttered, struggling to come up with something while Blake was impassive, although Ruby could see the anger in her eyes.

Ruby stared at her professor, disgust and grief at the betrayal bubbling within her. She didn't believe that killing was the only option, and she felt betrayed by both Professor Port and Tristan for taking this decision without telling them about it. Yet she remembered that they had to face Perseus and Assassin.

She also noticed Yang's eyes turning crimson. "Yang." She spoke as her sister looked at her. "I know you're mad. All of us are mad that Professor Port tried to go behind our backs like this. But we still have two enemies."

"Aw, I was hoping you five would continue your drama. It was jut about to get interesting." Assassin spoke in a false sweet tone before Perseus unsheathed his blade. "Now can we start?" He asked.

"We can. I will leave the children to you. Since the great huntsman here wants to shed my blood, I want to see how far he gets." Assassin spoke as Professor Port fired at her. A glyph materialized under Assassin's feet and carried her up. Assassin made a taunting gesture before flying off, her laugh echoeing in the woods. Professor Port pursued Assassin, leaving Ruby and the others to deal with Perseus.

And so, Semiramis went off and left Perseus with the girls. It shouldn't be too difficult, going by what Mordred told him about her fight.

But, the main issue was performing the deed. A constant doubt has been nagging at Perseus ever since he came to Cysgod. Killing Tristan was nothing he couldn't do because he was already dead and Tristan was also a warrior accustomed to killing.

Yet Team RWBY…they were still children. Perseus had been unhappy when he'd seen Mordred give him Ruby's unconscious form with serious wounds. He had been worried Mercury and Emerald would kill the girls and had been relieved when the girls had survived. He didn't want them to get hurt.

But he had to kill Blake, he had to do it.

Perseus pushed those feelings aside and exhaled.

Endure it. You'll have to do these things to fulfill your duty to your master. He thought. But despite all his best efforts, his mind remained troubled.

Here it is… Ruby thought. All of Ruler's training was meant to be able to put up a fight against people like Perseus. Although she wasn't someone to hold a grudge, she couldn't deny she wanted to pay Perseus back after using her as leverage to almost kill Professor Saber.

Perseus' slit pupils flicked to the left and Ruby noticed Yang, whose eyes were still crimson and she realized what Perseus was about to do.

"Are you ready to die, Belladonna? If you and your friends were defeated so soundly by that buffoon Mordred, you can just come over and let me chop off your head."

"You're not getting anywhere near her! I won't let you!" Yang snarled, her earlier rage over Professor Port now slowly taking control of her.

"Yang, don't…!"

"Oh…So you'll stop me? Let me see, you tried to stop Mordred when she tried to abduct your sister. And what was the result of that?" Perseus asked, striking Yang's nerve as her sister blasted forward with a furious scream, her right hand cocking back to break Perseus' teeth. The man put on his helmet, turning invisible as Yang hit nothing.

Ruby heard the fluttering of wings slowly get louder in a span of a few seconds.

"Blake!" She exclaimed tackling Blake out of the way as something swung over their heads, cutting off a few strands of Blake's hair as they fell to the ground.

Ruby remembered Professor Saber's advice regarding Perseus.

He can turn invisible. And until you find a way to get past that, you won't be able to put up much of a fight against him.

"Weiss! Snowstorm again!" She yelled as Weiss created a massive glyph and stabbed Myrtenaster into it, sending up snowflakes as an outline formed.

"Oh no you don't, Πῦρ…" Perseus spoke as the snow melted off and he was invisible.

"Weiss! Watch out!" Ruby spoke as Weiss gasped, something hitting her and sending her tumbling before nearly Blake suddenly placed an ice clone as Perseus' blade split it in half.

We need to trap him… She thought. Revealing him wasn't enough.

"Where is he?!" Yang yelled before something slammed into her, sending her sprawling. This time, Ruby shot where she thought Perseus could be, and the fluttering of wings that was getting louder suddenly got softer again. Ruby couldn't get a reprieve, as it immediately started getting louder and softer to her left and right, meaning Perseus was moving in a zigzag pattern. Ruby used her semblance to barely save Blake from another attempt to take her head off.

A pattern then ensued. Perseus circled Ruby and Blake, attempting to get past Ruby and kill Blake while keeping Yang and Weiss off him from time to time. After another failed attempt, Perseus stopped before she heard him say something and a fireball hit the two girls.

Ruby gasped as the flames burned against her aura, sending her and Blake in two different directions.

Perseus immediately went for the kill, but was deterred by a time dilation glyph placed by Weiss, slowing down enough for Blake to get out of the way. Ruby then made her move.

"Weiss! Snowstorm again!" Ruby spoke loading an ice dust round.

Weiss did the same and Perseus was revealed. Ruby shot her round as ice froze Perseus' legs. Before he could get out, he noticed Yang's fist coming for him.

"GRAH!" Yang yelled as her punch broke Perseus out of his ice, sending his helmet flying as he reappeared.

"Huh, you've improved. I suppose that is to be expected after the debacle with Mordred." Perseus spoke. "But that's the one last chance you're going to get." He spoke before Yang launched herself towards him. Perseus again dodged her strike and this time pressed his hand to her back.

Immediately, Yang froze solid and Perseus flew towards them. Weiss went to form another time dilation glyph but Perseus flew into the air and out of its range. Perseus sent down another fireball that split the girls before coming down and freezing Weiss too.

Ruby fired Crescent Rose and flew towards Perseus, stabbing its spear end at him. Whenever Perseus found an opening, Ruby fired crescent rose and spun its scythe end around, forcing Perseus to keep out of range and continue to defend against Crescent Rose's spear.

Blake joined in, shooting at Perseus. The two moved quickly, Ruby continuing her thrusts while Blake capitalized on Perseus' dodges by going in and swinging Gambol Shroud's blade and sheath. This was something Ruler had made them practice. Whenever Perseus managed to parry Ruby's blade and go for Blake, she would place a clone and avoid the blow, while Ruby continued putting pressure on Perseus.

That was until instead of a parry, Perseus his Blade's flat end touch Crescent Rose's staff, and Perseus slid into Ruby's guard and away from Blake. His elbow cracked against Ruby's chin before Ruby found cold seep into her body as she was encased in ice, leaving only her head. Ruby saw Perseus blocking Blake's blows, swinging at her while Blake placed more clones to dodge. However, after one such dodge, Blake was struck in the temple by a spinning kick that Perseus followed up with his previous slash and Blake stumbled to the ground.

Perseus' boot pressed down on Blake's stomach as he raised his blade.

"No!" Ruby yelled before using her semblance to escape her icy prison through the hole made by her neck and dashing towards Blake, shielding her with her body.

"Ruby! No!" She heard Blake exclaim but she refused to roll away.

Perseus stood still, and Ruby felt a little unease as his slit pupils looked down at her with a cold expression, yet Ruby could see the reluctance in his eyes and her eyes widened.

"Tch." He spoke as Ruby raised Crescent Rose, pointing it at Perseus.

"…You're not going to do it." Perseus spoke with a scoff before grunting as instead of a bullet, a taser hit him. The shock didn't drop him to the ground, but it made him stagger.

"You're right." Ruby spoke before hearing ice shattering as Yang and Weiss came up. Weiss quickly froze Perseus upto his waist while Yang wrapped her arms around him.

"We win." Yang spoke with a smirk although Ruby frowned. She really didn't think it was a victory. From what she could from Perseus' last move, he wasn't trying to kill her, Weiss and Yang. In essence, he was holding himself back.

But oh well, we'll have to consider it a victory. Ruby thought. But before that…

"Hm. Well, huntresses, what now?" Perseus asked as Ruby noticed her teammates looking at her.

"Perseus." She spoke softly as Perseus raised an eyebrow. "I saw it. I saw the reluctance in your eyes."

Weiss looked at her. "Ruby?"

Ruby raised a hand and Weiss kept quiet. "Deep down, you don't want to kill Blake, do you?"

Perseus was silent. "…She is still a child. You all are." He spoke, and for the first time, Ruby felt pity, hearing the sad resignation in his voice.

One part of her was screaming at her to not listen to him and bring him in like the heartless monster he is. But now there was another part that felt pity for Perseus.

"And? You think that excuses the fact you tried to kill Blake?" Yang asked.

"Yang." Ruby spoke. "Just hold on."

Yang frowned at her sister. "Rubes, you're being too soft on him."

"I know! But…after seeing what he truly feels about this, I just want to know something. Please, just hold on." Ruby spoke as Yang sighed before beckoning her to continue talking.

"Why are you doing this, then? Is there something forcing you to do so?" Ruby asked as Perseus looked at her.

"No. I am willing to do this to further the cause I am fighting for." Perseus spoke.

"What is that cause?"

"Its something you wouldn't understand."

"But you haven't even told us!"

"It doesn't matter. Its something no one other than us understands. The White Fang's goals merely come within our goals, so we help them."

Ruby frowned but didn't press. "But still, do you want to do this?" She asked as a contemplative look crossed Perseus' face.

"Belladonna, do you know where our current base of operations is?" He asked as Blake frowned and shook her head. "Not for certain. But most likely some White Fang camp or safehouse?"

Perseus snorted. "Then you don't know. Very well, I suppose that lessens your threat." He spoke as Ruby's eyes brightened.

"So, you'll not kill her?" Ruby

Perseus closed his eyes. "No. All this time, I've tried to steel myself to performing the deed. My mind hasn't known peace ever since I was ordered to kill Blake, but I could still restrain it enough to perform the deed and think about its consequences later. I kept assuring myself I didn't have to kill you three and it lessened the stress in my mind. But when you jumped in front of her, I realized just how far you are willing to go for your friend. If I were to succeed in my mission, I would have to kill you three as well. And I know if I did that, my mind will never know peace…and I won't be able to function properly."

Perseus didn't mention that her almost suicidal determination reminded him of himself when he brashly accepted Polydectes' offer to bring him the head of Medusa. That would be too personal.

"That was a sudden shift in attitude." He heard Weiss comment.

"Taunting is a viable tactic to get the scales in your favor." Perseus replied. "I usually don't mean most of the things I say in my taunts. Now, I've agreed to spare your friend. And I'll give you a warning, even though I know you're not going to listen." Perseus spoke.

"What you all are seeing is just that the White Fang and our faction causing havoc. But I want to let you know that is just scratching the surface. There is a lot more to this than you think."

Blake frowned. "What do you mean? Are you saying there's something else?"

"Don't probe. I'm determined to do anything to fulfill my duty, but I still have morals. And I don't want children to enter this pit of madness. All you have to do is stay away. I'll persuade my superior to leave you alone."

"What if we don't?" Weiss asked as Perseus frowned.

Then you four will walk the path of heroes. A path that's always filled with tragedy… Perseus thought. He was perhaps one of those few people whose life wasn't too much of a tragic story. Heracles murdered his family, Achilles lost Patroclus and died for a petty war waged to satisfy Agamemnon's greed, Theseus' father killed himself because of a simple mistake…the list goes on and on.

"I know you are stubborn and you want to protect civilians, but if you continue you down this path…none of you will be able to return to a normal life. You four will be plunged into a cycle of grief and sorrow." Perseus spoke. "None of you."

He didn't want to be so blunt, but he had to let them know what was coming. The harsh truth of what trying to be heroes would entail. Once it is set, no one can escape a hero's fate.

"Then we'll face it." Ruby spoke. "We'll not let innocent people be harmed. Whatever comes our way, we won't run."

And the words that would decide RWBY's fate were spoken.

Perseus sighed. More to join the long list of tragedies. He thought.

"Then I have nothing else to say." He spoke before Ruby released him. Perseus walked over and picked up his helmet. He looked back at RWBY, brief moment of sadness washing through before he looked away.

"You should hurry. Cysgod is under attack. And when you arrive, stay out of my way. I'm not in the mood to fight you after this talk." Perseus spoke before flying away.

Port pursued Assassin through the woods. He kept a note of any other enemies that could ambush him. But while usually he would maintain complete focus on his target, this time there were some lingering distractions in his mind.

"I let my younger students enjoy the bliss of ignorance, especially the first-years."

He'd misjudged the situation completely. Cysgod had always been a quiet place that rarely attracted much attention. Even Thane admitted that the most eventful thing that ever happened in Cysgod was him ambushing a Mantleian convoy in the great war, after which only the extermination of the shadows was the next major event, so he wasn't that worried when it was assigned to Team RWBY.

Yet with all that has occurred in these past few days, Port could admit it surpassed all of the event that occurred in the past.

He and Tristan had talked about killing Assassin the day before. Port was no stranger to the darker side of a huntsman's work. He had been forced to kill faunus soldiers who attempted to attack Beacon in the Faunus revolution. Yet Port did not enjoy killing, and he always ensured his students didn't have to go through that turmoil.

But in doing so, he'd damaged his relationship with Team RWBY.

I'll see what I can do later. First, I have to end Assassin here. Port spoke before hearing the clinking of chains and swinging blowhard to bat away chains going for his chest.

"So this is the difference between a full-fledged huntsman and a bunch of brats." Assassin's mocking voice spoke from the darkness of the forest. "They would have panicked and spent time scattering before finally figuring out how to deal with this problem."

Port kept himself calm. He couldn't see Assassin and it was clear her chains would not help in revealing her location.

Relying on his hearing, Port batted away and dodged more chains before a beam nearly blew a hole in his chest.

Assassin sighed. "Really? Just how is it that an old man like you can move faster and have better reflexes than most huntsmen?"

"Experience." Port replied before loading pulling out a bunch of fire dust rounds and firing them around him. The fire lit up the forest and Port noticed Assassin standing, slightly surprised by the sudden fire.

Port fired up his semblance and lunged towards Assassin with a roar, swinging Blowhard to split her skull open. Assassin's eyes widened as another glyph carried her away. But blowhard hit the ground, sending a shockwave that blasted Assassin away.

Port fire more rounds at Assassin as she flew, the servant sending more chains to deflect the rounds before tumbling to the ground

Assassin got up with anger in her eyes. "You…" She snarled as Port charged towards her. She materialized tablets and fire off more beams. Port dodged the beams, wincing as some of the beams grazed his aura.

Those beams are very powerful… Port noted. Assassin's semblance was also very odd. Being able to materialize chains and some sort of stone that fires beams. But whatever it is, he had to avoid them.

Port swung Blowhard again, as Assassin was forced to create a glyph. Blowhard shattered the glyph and Assassin was again blown back.

"You fight like a brute." Assassin snarled before Port fired a round at the tree behind her, causing it to fall down and almost crush her. Assassin came closer to the flames as Port couldn't see her in the roaring flames. Soon, Port had started feeling the heat of the flames. Even with his good performance, Port was still an old man. He coughed slightly from the smoke.

"Oh, having trouble breathing, old man?" Assassin mocked as Port scowled.

"Need some other way to get her." He spoke before looking towards the flames as Assassin came back again.

Port did another charge, forcing Assassin to hide behind the flames again, and Port made his move.

"So, I forgot to ask, Can I get your name, miss?" Port asked.

From the silence, he could tell Assassin was confused. "Hm?"

Still can't pinpoint her… Port thought. Just get her to talk more.

"Well, in my rage, I forgot my manners. Now that I've slightly calmed down, introductions. My name is Peter Port, professor of grimm studies at Beacon academy."

"What are you blabbering about, old man? Oh well, I am Semiramis, and that's all that you need to know."

Port immediately turned around. "Excellent!" He spoke loudly before charging straight for the flames. Port hissed as the flames washed over him, but his aura endured it and Port came out to see Semiramis' wide eyes.

Port drove his fist into her stomach and Semiramis went flying into a tree, crumpling in a heap and coughing out blood.

That was a bit too risky… He thought. And a bit hypocritical considering his admonishment of Ms. Rose for releasing the Hydra.

Port walked over to her before pointing blowhard at her. Semiramis glared at him in fury and whispered something.

Before Port could pull the trigger, he heard a roar and his eyes widened, some green serpentine creature with three yellow eyes emerging out of a purple portal and opening its jaw. Port dropped blowhard and pushed his semblance hard, grabbing the monster's jaw with each hand and holding its jaws open.

It wasn't an easy task, and Port felt his muscles burn from holding back the monster.

"GRAH!" He grunted as he pushed the monster's jaws aside, hearing a snapping sound as the monster fell lifeless.

Port then felt chains wrap around him and raise him into the air.

I lost… He realized as Semiramis got up with a stormy expression.

"I underestimated you, old man." She spoke wiping the blood from her mouth before more chains materialized around Port.

"Now, I'll calm myself down with this little entertainment." She spoke as the chains slowly pressed against Port's aura. Port hissed as he felt a burning sensation which got even worse.

He took deep breaths and struggled against the chains, but the pain got worse.

Just when Port couldn't take it anywhere, Someone flew down beside Semiramis.

"That's enough. We're getting late." Perseus spoke as Semiramis looked at him in anger. "I'm not finished."

"It doesn't matter. The Carrier is slowly losing patience, so I prefer we get this over with." He spoke as Semiramis looked back at Port before releasing him.

"Well, Perseus, care to give this lady a little help?" Semiramis asked with a smile as Perseus scoffed before picking her up and flying off.

Port propped himself back up.

I need to meet with the others. He thought before returning to the camp.

Over there, he noticed Team RWBY and Tristan, who was now standing.

"How are you?" Port asked him.

"I'm better, although I'm still a bit weak from the poison." Tristan replied.

Port then looked at Team RWBY and sighed at their glares. "We can discuss this later. Cysgod's in danger and we need to get there as soon as possible."

Ruby looked away before looking at Tristan. "I can carry you with my semblance."

"…Yes, that would be good."

With that, Ruby turned into a cloud of rose petals and sucked Tristan in.

"Follow me." Port spoke as he led the group out of the camp.

Hold on, Ruler. Keep Cysgod safe. He thought.

When they arrived, Cysgod was in all terms, a battlefield. Shadow servants clashed against Cysgod's militia in front of the walls while defenders inside lobbed firebombs. Grimm attempted to smash through the walls, but they did not break as the defenders shot and killed many grimm.

"GET TO THE GATES!" Professor Port yelled as the group charged towards the gate, cutting a swathe through the enemy as they were spotted by the milita.

"THEY'RE HERE! OPEN THE GATES!" One of the huntsmen yelled as the group ran through the gate.

Inside, Port opened his scroll.

"Onyx, what is the situation?"

"Peter? Thank the gods, you've arrived. We need help at the eastern wall. A majority of the enemy's forces are concentrated there.

"Eastern wall? That's where your house is!" Ruby exclaimed.

"They're here for the page!"

"Ok! We're heading there!" Ruby spoke before heading to the eastern wall.

There, the girls stood beside the defenders and joined in. Weiss shot massive ice spikes from her glyphs and sent waves of fire, Yang fired dust round after dust round from Ember celica while Ruby and Blake skirted around, cutting down any that tried to escape the bombardment. Weiss raised glyphs to block arrows shot from the enemy.

Ruby's heart pumped as she sped across the fields, Crescent Rose a red blur as she cut through shadow servants and grimm. She hissed as arrows from some archers hit her but continued her work. She noticed some small never mores flying and shot crescent rose, propelling herself into the air before speeding up with her semblance.

She cut one nevermore down before jumping from its corpse to cut down another nevermore. She could see Yang jumping down, the familiar glow of Weiss' time dilation glyph around her as she moved quickly, smashing and scattering enemy ranks.

Of course, that was when things went wrong. Ruby noticed a grey blur move towards Yang as her sister almost ate a kick.

Yang engaged the grey boy and Ruby flew down to join her sister.

The grey boy was extremely fast, but Ruby was thankfully used to it and the sisters were able to hold him off.

From her scroll, she could hear the chatter.

"Their numbers are going down!"

"We're winning!"

Ruby felt a smile form on her face as she fought. She had been worried Cysgod wouldn't be able hold up, but they did. They were winning this.

But then, someone's panicked voice sounded out.

"What the…?! THEY'VE ENTERED THE VILLAGE!"

Ruby's eyes widened.

"What?!" She heard Onyx's voice. "They got through?!"

"Everyone's dead at the gates. They've been opened from the inside!"

Inside? Ruby thought. But how is that possible, unless…

"A traitor." Ruby spoke before gasping. If they're in the village, then Onyx…!

Ruby immediately dashed back into the village heading towards Onyx's house. She noticed the houses were burning, as huntsmen fought shadow servants in Cysgod's streets. Ruby felt a pang of sadness watching the peaceful village become a battlefield but she had to get to Onyx first!

She entered the house, where Ruler was absent.

"Where's Ruler?" Ruby muttered before looking around. "Onyx! Where are you?!" She spoke as she went up the stairs. Soon, she found Onyx in his study, looking out at the fires burning in Cysgod.

Ruby let out a sigh of relief. "You're safe."

Onyx turned back. "Yes. But not for long, Ms. Rose." He spoke before pointing out the window. Ruby noticed Assassin and Perseus walking through the village, skewering people left and right with chains. "I take this that you were unable to succeed?"

Ruby's eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth but Onyx put a hand on her shoulder.

"No. Don't think of fighting them. They've already taken many of our people as hostages. I should have known about that they would have planted a traitor here."

Ruby blinked. "You're giving up?"

"Cysgod has always been a quiet village. You could say lurking the shadows of more well-fortified settlements for protection. We only lasted so long because the enemy had been weakened as well. But without the safety of our walls, we have no chance to saving this village."

"N-No, we can't just give up!" Ruby protested as Onyx sighed. "You have Thane's optimism, Ms. Rose. But you lack the experience to know a losing battle. I've already decided to surrender to prevent more bloodshed."

Ruby looked down, frustration and shame hanging over her. She was supposed to help resolve this issue. That was the assignment she'd chosen. Yet here she was, standing and doing nothing as she looked at her defeat.

"But, this can still be salvaged." Onyx spoke before putting a familiar bundle of pages onto Ruby's hand.

"Huh?"

"We both know what they're here for these. And we both know what could happen if they come to know of it. We can't save Cysgod, but I can ensure these pages are sent away to a safer place."

"Beacon." Ruby spoke. "You want me to take them to Ozpin?"

"Yes, along with Tristan. Take this letter to and give it to him. He'll understand what to do."

"Onyx…you don't have to stay. You can take them yourself" Ruby spoke as Onyx smiled. "Who knows what they'll do to my people if I go with you. No, I need to stay here for negotiating terms of surrender. Take the pages and the letter, and I'll consider your assignment to us fulfilled."

Ruby clenched her fist as her eyes watered up.

"I-It's not fair." She croaked out as Onyx noticed her tears and hugged her. "Don't cry, Ruby. I promise it'll be alright. I couldn't have asked for a better person to come in our time of need. Thank you for your help."

Ruby let go of him and went to walk out. "Goodbye, Onyx." She spoke in a low voice.

"Goodbye, Ms. Rose. Thane would have been proud of you if he were here." Onyx spoke as Ruby was silent before dashing through the house. Escaping just in time as she noticed Perseus and Assassin enter.

She went to the hangar, where their bullhead was parked. She picked up her scroll and switched on the intercom with her team and Professor Port.

"Everyone" She spoke in a hollow voice, wiping the tears off her face. "We're leaving."

Soon, it was dawn. Grey clouds cast a gloomy aura over Cysgod, whose residents had been tied up by the shadow servants. Semiramis stood in front of Onyx's house grinning beside Perseus, Mercury and Emerald as Onyx was brought before her.

"So, dear Onyx. You said you wanted to negotiate?" She asked as Onyx scowled. He knew if he messed this up, then his people would be massacred.

"Yes."

"And why should I listen? You don't have anything to offer." Semiramis spoke licking her lips as Onyx smirked. "Really, have you found the pages?"

Semiramis smile fell as she looked at the house. "They haven't found it yet?" She spoke before the shadow servants came up.

"We were unable to find the pages." They spoke as Semiramis eyes widened. "What? Have you checked his office."

"We did. We even found the library our ally told us about. They're not there."

"You were saying?" Onyx spoke as Semiramis glared down at him.

"You moved them." She spoke as Onyx smiled. "If you get to fool me with an obvious trick, I get to do the same. So here is my proposition. I will tell you where the pages are now, and you will promise to let my people go."

Semiramis scowled as Perseus raised an eyebrow.

"Smart." He muttered as Semiramis shot him a glare. "What? You decided to go at a leisurely pace instead of heading there immediately because of your obsession with trampling over those weaker than you. Even then, its not a problem. They would be of no use to us, unless you decide to be petty and just want to watch them suffer."

"Watch your tongue, Perseus."

"I won't. You've been acting like a spoiled brat and taken a long time to complete a relatively simple issue. If you have some problems, then take it up with him. I'm sure he'll tolerate your whining."

"Oof, someone drank from coffee laced with fire dust." Mercury spoke.

"But anyways, I am her technical superior, despite what this looks like, so please. We'll let them go if you tell us." Perseus spoke as Onyx smiled.

"Very well. If you want to know, the pages are at Beacon academy."

Perseus sighed. "Of course, Ozpin would have a better time in keeping them safe." He spoke as Semiramis seethed.

"Very well. Release them." Perseus spoke as the shadow servants untied the bonds. Onyx let out a sigh of relief as Perseus looked back at Semiramis. "Now that this is done, we should get back. Our work here is over."

Semiramis was silent as she turned around, looking up at the clouds before smiling as a chain shot up and pierced Onyx's leg.

"Onyx!" Orchid screamed as Onyx yelled in pain. Perseus immediately cut the chains and glared at Semiramis.

"What did I say about you being petty?" He spoke in a cold voice as Semiramis snorted before leaving.

Perseus sent an apologetic look to Onyx before walking off as well.

Orchid ran up to Onyx, looking at his injured leg. "I'll go get some bandages."

Onyx grit his teeth in pain, as the rain set in.

"Help me up." He told one of his guards as they helped him up. He looked at the people of Cysgod and smiled. They'd lost many in the siege, and the damage done would take them a long time.

But the pages are safe. And I can consider that a victory. Onyx thought in relief.

Team RWBY, Port, Ruler and Tristan returned to Beacon, being received by Sigurd and Cú.

"Yo! We got another one!" Cú exclaimed looking at Tristan before Sigurd put a hand on his shoulder.

"Wait." He spoke as the servants noticed the gloomy look on Team RWBY's faces.

"We need to see Ozpin." Ruby spoke with dull eyes as Saber nodded. Whatever had happened at Cysgod village, it had clearly affected Team RWBY.

"Very well." Sigurd spoke leading Team RWBY to Ozpin's office.

He stood outside as the girls went in with a bunch of pages and a letter. He heard Ozpin talk to them about something, as well the sound of Ruby bursting into tears.

Cú looked at Sigurd with a concerned expression. "Kid's not feeling great right now."

"That she isn't. We'll know more once they come out."

A few days after what is now being called the Siege of Cysgod, Ozpin sat looking at some pictures in his office.

He should have known that Thane wouldn't have been able to destroy the wyvern when he gave him the final assignment. It wasn't like the other elder grimm, after all. It explained the Mount Glenn disaster so well, yet Ozpin was surprised he couldn't connect the dots earlier.

So, Ozpin's drones took pictures of Mount Glenn to look for any defensive positions and openings for digging to the Wyvern's corpse. After all, he would need a lot of huntsman to hold off the grimm while the wyvern's corpse was being dug out.

And in that, he found something interesting.

Ozpin looked at pictures of grimm and some of those strange monsters roaming about along with white fang patrols.

He picked up his scroll and called Glynda. "Gather the association. I've found where they are located."

"You have? I hope you haven't called James."

"No. I won't involve James unless I have no choice. With what we have, we'll expel what remains of Salem's presence from Vale."

A/N: Cysgod's over. Oh my goodness, I cannot tell how much time has passed since I started this arc. Introducing Tristan, unravelling some of Team RWBY's characters and revealing the next villainous servant, Semiramis, just so much to do because of burst of inspiration. Not going to lie, I planned to introduce Semiramis just moments before Maglad's review came. And I was just perspiring because I had planned to introduce a female antagonist at that time.

Anyways, we come to Mount Glenn, which will be the finale of Volume-2. Not going to lie, I still have a lot of stuff to do before I can end this volume, so maybe Mount Glenn might also be a little long. Gods help me when I get deeper into the story.

But anyways, I still need a little interlude chapter to deal with the aftermath before we head to Mount Glenn.

Volume-3 is actually going to be pretty long too, since I have a number of arcs planned out and there are going to be some new characters and some familiar characters appearing ahead of time. It's going to be a bit painful getting through, since I am hyped for when I eventually write the fall of Beacon.

Hope you guys enjoyed and constructive criticism is appreciated!

Response to Reviews:

Makimass: Sigurd action is coming up in this next arc. Plus, I do see that I've accidentally written Sigurd as a cop who always arrives late. But to be fair, I had planned Volume-2 to focus more on Team RWBY so the spotlight was put on them. Not to worry, Volume-3 is more Sigurd-centric and you'll get plenty of servant vs servant action scenes in that.